The NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division of NNPC Ltd., has expanded its Vulnerable Farmers Training Program to Northern Nigeria, marking the second phase of the initiative, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve food security in Nigeria, encourage economic empowerment, and advance national development. With topics including organic fertilization, post-harvest loss reduction, climate-smart farming, and improved market access strategies, the program aims to provide farmers with up-to-date agricultural skills. As you may remember, the program’s first phase, which was implemented throughout the Southern region (South-East, South-South, and South-West), was a great success, equipping over 4,000 farmers with market-access strategies and modern agricultural practices. Training sessions are planned to take place in six designated states throughout the North East, North West, and North Central geopolitical zones, as well as one in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, as part of this second phase. Highlighting the importance of the programme during the official flag-off of the first phase at Nsukka, Enugu State, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda, which seeks to boost food security, increase productivity and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the country. ”At NNPC Ltd, we recognize that agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for over 70% of Nigeria’s population. Yet, many farmers remain trapped in subsistence-level production due to limited access to modern techniques, quality inputs, and competitive markets. That narrative is intended to be altered by this training,” Arukwe said. The training’s objective, she underlined, is to give participants the resources, information, and tools they need to transition from subsistence farming to sustainable, commercial-scale agricultural production.
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