The LIFE-ND Agribusiness Innovative Forum (LAbIF) has elected and inaugurated national officers to manage its affairs.
The inauguration was contained in a communique signed by its newly elected President, Mr Julius Ogar and Secretary, Mr Tariowei Ovuru and made available to newsmen by LIFE-ND media officer in Abia, Mr Raymond Benson.
LIFE–ND is Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Federal Government of Nigeria and Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The communique indicated that apart from Ogar who emerged from Cross River and Ovuru from Bayelsa, Mrs Fidelia Eze-Owens (Delta) became the Vice President.
Mr Felix Ogidi (Ondo) was elected as Financial Secretary, Mr Clement Ikoro (Abia) Treasurer and Mr Monday Ebak (Cross River) emerged Auditor.
Mr Andrew Odihi-Ogiamien (Edo) emerged Public Relations Officer (Edo) while Mr Chukwuemeka Okorie was elected as the Youth in Agriculture Representative.
“The stakeholders’ consultative forum held at Port Harcourt, Rivers reviewed activities of LAbIF across the six states of Cross River, Edo, Bayelsa, Abia, Delta and Ondo.
“The forum which reviewed and adopted the draft constitution, resolved that a single registration of LAbIF be done with states as chapter, within six weeks.
“The forum also proposed the establishment of a regional microfinance bank while a national LAbIF summit be organised at least by the second quarter of 2025,” the communique read.
The forum according to the communique, resolved that the activities of LAbIF be facilitated through relevant technologies in its operations and website creation.
“Emphasis was placed on efforts to further strengthen local LAbIF, as well as harmonise its activities in the region.
“The forum gave the national executive two weeks to produce a national work plan while LIFE-ND continues playing the role of facilitation and guidance,” the statement read.
The LIFE-ND National Project Coordinator (NPC), Dr Sanni Abiodun had earlier in a keynote, commended the state and national executives of LABIF for their numerous achievements.
“There should be continuous interaction among the stakeholders and grassroots strengthening, to achieve the desired outcome,” he said.
He welcomed the need for a continuous interaction among the stakeholders in order to achieve the desired outcome.
The Agribusiness Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Mrs Anthonia Esenwa, urged them to do better and make LAbIF a household name, while assuring them of the project’s support to give it all the exposure it needed
In his remarks, Dr. Clement Uwem, the Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Coordinator of LIFE-ND, reminded the forum that agriculture
in the region was still being treated as a cultural practice rather than as business.
He called call on LAbIF to help the beneficiaries build businesses around their activities.
Uwem also made a presentation on the topic, “Agricultural multi-stakeholders institution and incubation model of agribusiness development in Nigeria.”
He identified some of the challenges of the small holder farmers as access to facilities, profitability, production techniques, lack of control over price, access to financial resources and social capital.
Uwem explained that the potentials of the small holder farmers could be unlocked through the use of agricultural innovation platforms (AIPs).
In another presentation, Prof. Robson Etuk, said that problems of agriculture in the Niger Delta region included low productivity, unsustainable practices, limited access to resources, market and technology.
He also identified other challenges as
poor coordination among stakeholders, socio-political dynamics and environmental degradation among others.
Etuk stated that the importance of the multi stakeholders platform is its use in promoting collaboration, enhancing policy advocacy, the empowerment of local actors and ensuring sustainability
The forum featured an expert presentation on the Nigerian Agricultural Enterprise Curriculum (NAEC), a practical class where the participants were grouped into three and the table serving as the central bank.
