Following the project’ blue print of
the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), the Abia state coordinating office of the agro Project in Umuahia on Friday held a training section for the executives of Commodity Apex Development Association (CADA).
CADA is made up of farmers who are farming different commodities within the communities LIFE-ND project is working on. The LIFE-ND project brings these farmers into an association for the sole purpose of building their capacity, to monitor and implement the project’s concept in the community where LIFE-ND project is ongoing.
The state project coordinator, Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu PhD, spoke to candidreporters.com on the sole purpose of having the CADA executive members for the second batch training.
In his words: “The CADA training is to build the capacity of members, especially the executives on group management, leadership, group dynamics and to sensitize them on their responsibilities.
“The second batch helps us to reach out to more communities that couldn’t benefit from the first batch.”
Speaking extensively on the benefits of the CADA training, Dr Onyeizu explained that it is for the benefit of the CADA executive members. It will help them to understand their role in the project because the blue print of the project is for the capacity training of members, pegged on group management, leadership and group dynamics.
Candidreporters.com gathered that the blue print of the project is to ensure that the project’ agenda continues even without the presence of LIFE-ND coordinating staff in their communities or when the project ends. After the exit of the project, the community is projected to then owns the project for continuity and also holds the responsibility to protect the project in their community.
Speaking after to the training section, Anthony Nwaobilor, the Rural Institutions Youth And Gender Officer of LIFE-ND project in Abia State, added the technical training is meant to strengthen the CADA members ability towards handling the project activities in their respective communities.
In his words; “The Capacity Training/Technical meeting is to gradually build the capacity of the CADA members to understand what is expected of them to do in their community in the absence of the coordinating officers.
“Today we have taught them Leadership, Group Dynamics and Group Management so that they will be able to manage all their produce and other responsibilities.”
The facilitator of the training, Dr Tempo Chukwuemeka Nwosu, an expert in rural institutions, whose task was to provide leadership training and capacity building for the leaders of CADA hinted that during the training, he focused on group management, group dynamics and leadership. He also holds that the training program was participatory.
“From their reaction the level of appreciation is commendable. At a point we made the class participatory, they followed and at the end of it they were able to ask questions and make observations which showed that they listened and followed the discuss. I believe with this training they just had, they will become more equiped to deliver their task in their various communities” Dr Nwosu said.
The CADA president, Okorie Chukwuemeka from Isiala Amaelu autonomous community in Bende local government area of Abia state also pointed out the benefits of the training.
“Before now the Abia LIFE-ND management have stated that the CADA members will manage and continue the project when LIFE-ND coordinating team exit the agro training program. I have learnt much from the training.
“I have learnt about what will make a group succeed and also fail. Like micro managing resources will make a group to fail, lackadaisical attitude of leaders will also make a group to fail. When we see our duty as a responsibility to our community, we will succeed. Some people must benefit directly or indirectly. LIFE-ND projects in various Community speaks for itself and we know they are going to continue.” Okorie said.
Another CADA executive member, Madam Ogbonna Violet Oluchi from Obinguobi autonomous community of Isialangwa south local government area of Abia state, an auditor of the activities of the incubatees in her community also expressed satisfaction of the outcome of the training.
Madam Violet said she has “learnt not to be autocratic in decision making rather to be democratic in a way that everyone in her group will be allowed to express him or herself in any circumstance”.
On enquiry if the CADA training is a continuous arrangement, Dr Onyeizu said “there will be more and more training till all CADA members in LIFE-ND project benefits.”
Dr Onyeizu also revealed that admission is ongoing for the quick-win trainer and trainees. He said 1000 incubates/ trainees are needed. Also adding that the next incubatees(beneficiaries) in the remaining 49 communities will soon commence as 25 new communities have been validated for take off.
The LIFE-ND Project is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD). The project is ongoing in the nine Niger-Delta States.
Also involved in the project are the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, The Federal Ministry of Finance, budget and National Planning, and the United Nations.
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