To complement the National Project Coordinating Office for a sustained Agribusiness initiative of the FGN/NDDC- IFAD-LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT FAMILY ENTERPRISES (LIFE-ND) Project, the Cross River State Coordinating Office of the LIFE ND recently launched the State branch of the Livelihood Improvement Agribusiness Initiative Forum in Calabar.
Declaring the event opened, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo Jnr commended the IFAD LIFE ND Project and the State officers for the giant stride made in the State.
“The impression made by the LIFE-ND Project is very laudable. The Governor, His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu speaks highly of the IFAD LIFE-ND Project, and that is why he approved the release of the counterpart funds for the project”.
“This is how passionate the Governor is about the project. The project aligns with the robust Agricultural initiatives of the Governor and in line with the People First Mantra. On this note, the State is adopting the incubation model of the IFAD LIFE-ND Project which is akin to the mentorship/mentee common in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. This model which has been working for them in trade and investment makes the project very unique, highly sustainable and more appealing”.
While responding to questions from our reporter on the possibility of politicizing the scheme when it’s commences operation, Ebokpo stated that, the State will be very deliberate in institutionalizing the scheme with the right sets of people in place. “If we must get it right, then we must get it right from the beginning. We must establish institutions and allow the right set of people to handle it. Knowing how passionate the Governor is about Agriculture, he will deliver on this”. He added.
The National Project Coordinator, Dr. Engr. Sani Abiodun who was represented by the Agribusiness Coordinator, Mrs Anthonia Esenwa in her remarks added that, Cross River State has raised the bar on project implementation and that such an example must be maintained, adding that the State LAbIF launch was the icing of the sugar to further give room for expansion of stakeholders engagement to sustain the project.
The Rural Institution, Gender and Youth Coordinator, Dr. Uwem Clement took the participants through the LAbIF operations and it’s role in Agribusiness, while explaining that, LAbIF will ease farmers, off-takers and service providers roles as it is an ecology of expertise coming together for the ease of doing Agribusiness. Pointing out that LAbIF will create the needed synergy between members.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Innocent Ogbin welcomed the participation to the launch and thanked the State Governor, HE. Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu for the release of the project’s counterpart funds. According to Ogbin the release is to ensure that every aspect of the project’s implementation is addressed to the latter. He further announced the life of project achievement target which has surpassed the target set for the State. Furthermore, the State Project Coordinator reminded all that, the state LAbIF will work with all the stakeholders and also ensure that farmers reap from the low hanging fruits.
Highpoints of the event were the elections of the State executives for LAbIF and photo sessions.
