By Leonard Okachie
The Project Coordinating Office of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) on Tuesday in Umuahia, distributed agro-inputs, laptops and other computer accessories to some of its beneficiaries in Abia.
LIFE-ND is a project of the Federal Government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to promote community-based on-farm and off-farm business activities.
The Abia LIFE-ND Project Coordinator, Dr Uchenna Onyeizu, said that those given the agro-inputs were the third batch of ‘incubatees’ that were about to graduate from their various ‘incubation'(training) centres.
The beneficiaries were given the inputs at the project’s secretariat in Umuahia to enable them to undertake their agribusinesses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 100 beneficiaries, otherwise known as the ‘incubatees’ received the inputs for their poultry enterprises.
Another set of 10 got laptops and other computer accessories for their digital marketing.
Onyeizu said that the inputs, which served as a loan, were part of their working capital, adding that they had already been given their running cost.
“It is expected that they go to their various homes where they prepared to train these birds and at the end of the day, sell them for some profits.
“Beyond the training at the incubation centres, they are given orientation training and we are able to put them through basic knowledge in agribusiness in terms of book-keeping and others,” he said.
He said that some of the beneficiaries, being the fourth batch to be trained in agrictech, were given laptops and other tools as their working resources.
According to him, they are being trained on development of websites, online marketing and other technical skills needed especially within the agricultural sector.
The LIFE-ND State Agribusiness Promotion Officer, Mr Godwin Chukwekezie, explained that each of the beneficiaries that were into broiler production was entitled to 250 birds, 12 bags of broiler starter, 18 bags of broiler finisher and other poultry equipment.
Chukwekezie said the beneficiaries of the laptop and other computer accessories would use them as tools for their three month agrictech training being organised by the project.
He said that the programme was meant for the youths between 18 and 25 years old who are interested, but have no jobs or are underemployed.
“It is expected that after the training they will do internet marketing for all our clients,” Chukwekezie said.
A beneficiary, Miss Maureen Obioma, expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying that it had been her desire to get a laptop.
“I am expected to market products online for farmers who are LIFE-ND clients, to enable them achieve their aim of getting online buyers,” she said.
An agro-input beneficiary, Mr Paul Nwanki, who uses a wheelchair because of his disability, said that it was an opportunity that would open a new chapter in his life.(NAN)
