The Abia Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Niger-Delta LIFE-ND has begun the pre-selection exercise for the next batch of beneficiaries for the ongoing agro project in Abia state powered by international fund for Agriculture (IFAD).
A team of Abia LIFE-ND staff who piloted and monitored the selection exercise on Monday began with Isialangwa north LGA, Obingwa LGA and Umuahia South LGA of Abia state. Dr. Jerus Uvieghara, the Knowledge Management and Communication Coordinator (KMCC) was part of the monitoring team, he represented the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND Project, Engr. Sanni Abiodun.
While briefing newsmen about the pre-selection exercise of prospective beneficiaries of the batch, Dr. Jerus said the ongoing exercise leads to the final selection of qualified beneficiaries who will be enrolled in different enterprises of the project in Abia state.
Dr. Jerus also highlighted that Abia state is one of the 6 states benefiting from the LIFE-ND project in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.
Dr. Jerus added that interested persons who wants to become beneficiaries of the project must be in line with the qualifications and guidelines of the project which is strictly for youths and women in the rural communities of the Niger-Delta states of Nigeria and basically for those that are unemployed or underemployed, they must be within the age range of 18-35 years of age.
“Once the person has been spotted and carefully selected based on the criteria set, they are put under an identified expert who will train them in a value chain of the agro project.” Dr Jerus said.
For Abia State, beneficiaries of the project are to be trained on cassava production, poultry, rice production and fishery. Shortlisted beneficiaries are to choose the enterprises of their choice to be trained on.
Dr. Jerus revealed that this phase of the project is targeting 13,050 incubatees (beneficiaries) as 25,500 beneficiaries were targeted for training in the first batch but 26,470 were achieved in the project which started in 2019.
Mr. Azubuike Ogbonna Azubuike, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Abia LIFE-ND who also represented Dr. Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, the Abia State Project Coordinator (SPC), while addressing newsmen about the pre-selection exercise, expressed satisfaction in the progress of the selection exercise.
Mr. Azubuike also reminded that the age qualification for prospective beneficiaries of the project is between the ages of 18-35 years and It also accommodates those with disability and women headed household.
The screening committee for the pre-selection exercise is made up of youth leader, women leader, the Commodity Apex Development Association (CADA) leader and representatives from the state and national coordinating office of the LIFE-ND Project.
Mr. Azubuike also added that the process of selection is free from political influence.
Speaking with Joshua Eberechi, a native of Umuosu, Ubakala who came to be enlisted into the training expressed optimism to be among those to be selected after getting the information about LIFE-ND agro training.
“I completed my secondary school education two years ago, I have applied and I have hope that I will be enlisted. With the economic situation in Nigeria today, with this training, it can really solve a lot for me”. Joshua said.
Joy Ijeoma Augustine an interested persons from Umuapu Isialangwa South LGA, applying to be enlisted in the project expressed hope to be a successful beneficiary of the project. Ijeoma applauded the LIFE-ND project and promised to do her best if selected.
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