The Abia Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), has commenced the strengthening and reconstitution of Commodity Apex Development Associations (CADA), across benefiting communities.
This move is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of its investments after the project exits.
The exercise, which took place in Ukwa West and Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Areas is part of the project’s exit strategy.
It is aimed at making rural institutions functional to coordinate, manage and sustain all LIFE-ND interventions at the community level.
The State Administration and Resources Officer of Abia LIFE-ND, Mr Wisdom Ukonu, said the project has declared a “state of emergency” on Sub-Component 1.4, which bothers on rural institutions.
“We are here to ensure that these rural institutions are working and functional.
“So that we can rest assured that the huge investment of the project in these communities will continue running and not go away with the wind,” Ukonu said during the field visit.
He explained that CADA is the apex body of all enterprise groups in a community.
“CADA houses all the enterprise groups that exist in the community, whether it is Rice, Cassava or Poultry Enterprise Group.
“CADA provides leadership to coordinate and oversee their affairs so that all these enterprises can stand on their feet and run,” he added.
According to him, CADA exists in every community where the LIFE-ND project is functional.
He explained that the body is expected to coordinate project activities, ensure loan repayment, oversee community infrastructure, and link enterprise groups to viable markets.
Also, Mr Anthony Nwaobilor, the State Rural Institution, Youth and Gender Officer, LIFE-ND, said the team visited Ipu West Autonomous Community in Ukwa West, Umuaka in Asa South, and Amapu Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North to assess and revitalise CADA structures.
He noted that many of the existing CADA executives were not functioning optimally, which has affected loan recovery and coordination.
“We discovered leadership gaps. So we dissolved the executive of the CADA and reconstituted new ones.
“Today we have over 45 beneficiaries in this community. We can now have better brains to man our affairs,” Nwaobilor said.
He added that beneficiaries’ working capital is expected to be repaid through the CADA account.
A stronger CADA, he said, will ensure accountability and continuity of the project’s goals.
New executive were inaugurated for CADA in Ipu West Autonomous Community, with Mr. Godson Umunnakwe emerging as Chairman and Mr. Lawrence Nworgu elected as Auditor General.
Umunnakwe, a former LIFE-ND beneficiary, said the project has transformed his farm and livelihood.
He pledged to mobilise youths to embrace agriculture.
“The youths are only interested in money. But when you educate them that if you work for it, you get it, they will come out for it,” he said.
Nworgu, on his part, promised to ensure transparency in remittances.
“I will oversee that every person who is to remit a token to CADA will do that. I will get the list of all beneficiaries so that I can supervise,” he assured.
In Amapu Ntigha, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, the Traditional Prime Minister and LIFE-ND incubator, Chief Okenze Nworgu, commended the project for its impact.
He said LIFE-ND has become a household name in the community following training in poultry, cassava production, and agro-processing.
“Initially they were skeptical. But when they saw beneficiaries funded, everybody wants to become a beneficiary of LIFE-ND,” he said.
Nworgu urged beneficiaries to use the loans for the intended purpose and to cycle them for continuous growth.
He also appealed to LIFE-ND to provide more physical structures in the community to sustain the project’s legacy.
Beneficiaries and community leaders expressed satisfaction with the reconstitution exercise and pledged support to make CADA the driving force for agribusiness and rural development in their communities.
LIFE-ND is a Federal Government, International Food for Agricultural Development and Niger Delta Development Commission-supported project.
It is implemented in the Niger Delta to improve household food security and boost incomes of rural youths and women through agribusiness.
( NAN)
