FG assures Niger Delta agiculture trainees of mobilisation, empowers 129 others

The Federal Government has pledged to make available start-up funds for the Niger Delta women and youths that participated in its various empowerment programmes.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, gave the assurance at the closing of the apiculture training in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Training and Empowerment Department in the ministry, Philip Ndiomu, the minister said the empowerment initiative, put together by the ministry in conjunction with the consultants, Excess Power Nig. Ltd., was to diversify the economy to enhance food security and generate employment opportunities for the people of oil-rich region in line with the current administration’s framework on economic development.

Akpabio said the programme was structured into two major components, adding that the training aspect takes care of economic skills, while the empowerment end provides beneficiaries with start-up capitals to establish micro and small businesses for their benefit and generation of other economic activities.

He went on: “The ministry is actively involved in other empowerment programmes such as the distribution of tricycles and motorcycles to entrepreneurs and farmers to ease the transportation of goods and services as well as provision of sewing machines and accessories for fashion designers.

“It is also giving fishing gears (lines, nets, hooks, sinkers etc.); fishing crafts (boats, canoes with outboard engines) as part of the agriculture mechanisation improvement support programme for communities.”

Akpabio further said: “It has also established cassava and oil palm processing plants and embarked on other agricultural mechanisation processes to promote agro-processing activities. In addition, the ministry is equipping ICT centres and schools for education and capacity building on leadership management. Hospitals are also being equipped to improve healthcare services and social outreaches have been set up for continued sensitisation to improve peace, security and livelihoods generally in the Niger Delta region.”