Across the fertile landscape of Cross River State agrarian economy, a transformative initiative designed to enhance food security, secure the future of agriculture and empower young minds is taking place in five selected schools.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for the Niger Delta (LIFE ND) Project, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has launched the Young Farmer’s/Good Nutrition Promoters Club, designed to integrate practical , hands-on-agriculture into school curricula, nurture a new generation of agripreneurs, and promote sustainable food systems.
With the core objective of “catching them young,” this initiative is strategically implemented in five pilot schools across the three senatorial districts of Cross River as follows: Government Technical School, Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo in the Southern Senatorial District; Christian Primary School, Ekori, Yakurr, Community Secondary School, Ofodua, Obubra in the Central Senatorial District and, Vessel of Honour Secondary School, Nwang, Ogoja, as well as Begiadin Secondary Grammar School, Obudu in the Northern Senatorial District.
These schools shall serve as epicenters of knowledge transfer, where students are not only introduced to farming techniques but also trained in the principles of nutrition, climate-smart agriculture, and agribusiness.
At the heart of the initiative is the establishment of the Young Farmers and Good Nutrition Clubs, a platform where students shall be engaged in hands-on agricultural activities to the extent of transferring their newfound knowledge and skills to their parents, and subsequently exploring career opportunities in the field of agricultural.
According to Mrs. Kate Egu, the State Nutrition Mainstreaming Specialist, while addressing students in school garden establishment and potentials of good nutrition pointed out, that the programme is a bold step towards food security. “By equipping these young ones with agricultural skills, we are not only fostering self-sufficiency but also, building a culture of enriching the body with quality bio-vits obtained and processed from biofortified staples thus, reducing dependency on imported food products and carbonated drinks. This is the future of Nigeria’s agriculture”. She advocated for the inclusion of agricultural science among the list of compulsory subjects in the school system.
For Dr. Eteng Ikona, the State Environment and Climate Change Specialist, explains the importance of climate in agriculture. That in today’s world, no agricultural venture can succeed without factoring in climate realities. “This initiative is instilling in students the knowledge of how climate variability, impacts food production and how to mitigate its effects through adaptive farming techniques.”
On his part, the State Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Mr Christian F Ekpor reiterated and draw the attention of students to the knowledge that agriculture is no longer a vocation for the aged, neither is it a poverty ridden job nor that of hoe and knives but strictly business. He pointed out that the various initiatives and strategies of Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for the Niger Delta Project are all geared towards equipping incubatees with the technology and innovative skills to practice agriculture with ease devoid of drudgery. “It is important to understand that precision agriculture has come to stay and multiple streams of income is the way to go in today’s economy. The establishment of school gardens with intend to replicate at home is one way to generate, conserve and managed the family disposable income while improving nutrition”.
To ensure maximum impact, FGN NDDC, IFAD assisted LIFE ND project is providing schools with extension support, ensuring students gain real-world insights into farm management, soil fertility conservation, and climate adaptation strategies.
The young farmer’s/good nutrition promoter clubs which aligns with the National School Health Programme, that advocates for the establishment of school gardens shall exposed students to diet diversity, health nutrition, and the importance of balanced diets in reinforcing the role of agriculture in achieving the overall well-being of the citizenry.
The Executive Secretaries of the five Local education authorities across the five participating local government areas—Akpabuyo, Yakurr, Obubra, Ogoja, and Obudu lauded the initiative for its far-reaching impact on both education and community development. Stating that it aligns with the matching order of the Commissioner for Education to all Schools to enforce the formation of young farmers Clubs. That, the inclusion of nutrition by FGN, NDDC IFAD LIFE ND Project is a further boost to the initiative.
The Education Authority Executive Secretaries of Akpabuyo, Yakurr, Obubra, Ogoja and Obudu commended the initiative noting that, it is game-changer. That in Cross River State, agriculture has always been a cornerstone of the local economy, that with IFAD assisted LIFE ND Project intervention, the students’ skills will be sharpened to carry-out the legacy forward—no more as subsistence farmers, but as agricultural entrepreneurs of future.
The students were grateful for the opportunity. Miss Christiana Essien Awa of Government Technical College, Ikot Nakanda, Akpabuyo LGA who spoke on behalf of all the students across the five schools thanked IFAD LIFE-ND Project describing the project as a blessing to Cross River State were young people now embrace farming with enthusiasm. She maintained that the knowledge, innovations acquired shall foster a nation with children contributing to Nationhood. “I am currently participating in homestead garden with my parents, having engaged in the practical hands-in-crop cultivation, I shall transfer same to my parents and siblings”. She concluded.
With a clear vision, strong partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to agricultural development, IFAD’s Good Nutrition Promoters Club is not just planting crops—it is cultivating a generation of agricultural leaders, food security advocates, and change-makers. The future of Nigeria’s agriculture lies in the hands of these young minds, and with initiatives like this, that future has never been brighter.
The high point of the exercise was the extraction of commitment from all the Local Government Education Authority Executive Secretaries across Akpabuyo, Yakurr, Obubra, Ogoja, and Obudu Local Government Councils namely: Yakurr LGA : Mr Anthony Ofem Obi, Obubra LGA : Mr Ekoyi Ikpabi Ayani, Obudu LGA : Mrs Tonia Agim, Ogoja LGA: Mr Otung Ernest Egem, and
Akpabuyo LGA : Mr Etim, Paul Edemor for partnership.
Also, parents, teachers and students were sensitized on the initiative which culminated in the selection of Seventy-two-member young farmer’s/ good nutrition promoter clubs and subsequent election of Seven-men/women executive committee across each of the participating schools.
Earlier on the students were trained on good nutrition with the distribution of farm tools and planting materials to them; the Seventy-two-beds/ridges per school preparation and apportionment to each member across the selected five schools; practical and sequential planting/seeding of the seeds, plant geometry, demonstration of agrochemicals applications as well as spot-irrigation and organic manure applications across the five pilot schools were systematically carried out.
With these resources and Institutional training, students gained firsthand experience in crop propagation, agribusiness, and farm management, thus, setting the stage for lifelong careers in agriculture.
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