423 N’ Delta Communities To Get Anti-Poverty Lifeline

Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed (left), presenting his 2010 score card in Abuja, yesterday. With him is the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku.

About 423 communities in the Niger Delta region  are to benefit from poverty alleviation funds from the International Funds for Agricultural Development / Federal Government of Nigeria/ Community Based Natural Resources Management Programme/ Niger Delta Poverty Alleviation Programme.

The Programme Co-ordinator of IFAD /FGN/CBNRMP-ND, Mrs Irene Ibifuro Ibeakuzie made this known during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Songhai Farm International at the Rivers State Songhai farms project at Bunu-Tai in the Tai Local Government Area of the state.

Mrs Ibeakuzie said that the agreement which covers an initial phase of two years would enable the two organisations to explore mutual areas of cooperation with a view to checking poverty in the Niger Delta.

According to her, the agreement would have multiplier effect on the rural communities especially in the area of capacity building, technology transfer and service delivery.

She said that the rural communities would benefit tremendously  from the value of commercial agriculture, which she said was a potent weapon of poverty eradication in the Niger Delta region.

Mrs Ibeakuzie who thanked the International Director of Songhai farm project, Rev Fr Godfrey Nzamujo for his support, expressed the hope that the collaboration would benefit the parties concerned.

Also speaking, the IFAD country representative, Dr Ben Odoemena, said that IFAD was partnering with Songhai farm to improve the people’s condition of living in the Niger Delta.

Dr Odomena who described the occasion as a milestone in the region said the IFAD was committed in meeting the challenges of creating economic opportunities for rural dwellers as well as ensuring that agriculture succeeds in the region.

Earlier, the International Director of Songhai Farm, Port Novo, Rev Fr Godfrey Nzamujo had expressed optimism that the occasion would mark a turning point in the development of talents in the region.