The NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPC Ltd., has extended its Vulnerable Farmers Training Programme to Northern Nigeria, marking the second phase of the initiative aimed at boosting food security, economic empowerment, and national development.
This was announced in a press statement released on Wednesday by NNPC’s Chief corporate communications officer, Mr. Andy Odeh. According to the statement, the programme equips farmers with modern agricultural techniques including climate-smart farming, organic fertilization, post-harvest loss reduction, and improved market access strategies.
The first phase of the training, which took place across the South-East, South-South, and South-West regions, successfully empowered over 4,000 farmers with modern practices and market strategies. Building on this success, the second phase will cover the North East, North West, and North Central geopolitical zones, with training sessions scheduled in six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Speaking during the official flag-off of the first phase in Nsukka, Enugu State, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda aimed at boosting food security, increasing productivity, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
“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. This training is designed to change that narrative,” Arukwe stated.
She added that the ultimate goal of the training is to equip participants with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to transition from subsistence farming to sustainable, commercial-scale agricultural production.
