LIFE-ND Trains 655 Edo Agribusiness Entrepreneurs on Export Standards

News in brief:

-LIFE-ND begins export-focused training for 655 Edo agribusiness entrepreneurs across three senatorial districts.

-The programme targets compliance with NAFDAC and SON standards to improve the competitiveness of products made in the state.

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project recently commenced training for 655 agribusiness entrepreneurs in Edo State on international best practices in packaging, branding and product standardisation.

Declaring the training open, the Edo State Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Mr John Omoruyi, said the initiative is designed to reposition beneficiaries’ enterprises to meet global certification and export requirements.

Represented by the State Agribusiness Promotion Officer, Mrs Grace Iredia, he said the programme forms part of a broader human capacity development initiative targeting 655 beneficiaries across the state.

“This programme is aimed at supporting and capacitating our beneficiaries in business. LIFE-ND has trained entrepreneurs from 2021 to 2025, but we need them to upscale their businesses to meet export standards and certification requirements,” Omoruyi said.

He explained that the training covers measurement standards, product standardisation, packaging and branding to help participants transition from local to international markets.

Regulatory Compliance and Certification

Officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria were invited to guide beneficiaries on certification procedures, regulatory compliance and export requirements.

Omoruyi said 60 incubatees would benefit in the first phase, with 20 participants drawn from each of the three senatorial districts.

Edo South participants are being trained in cassava, fish and poultry value chains, while Edo Central focuses on cassava and poultry, and Edo North on cassava, poultry and rice. He added that the training would be replicated across the remaining districts.

Boosting Competitiveness and Income

Omoruyi said the initiative is expected to enhance livelihoods and increase income levels, describing it as strategic for improving the competitiveness of Made-in-Edo products.

“With the knowledge acquired, they should be able to package rice, frozen birds and processed fish to meet export targets,” he said.

He disclosed that 4,337 people had benefited from earlier phases of the programme, with an additional 665 entrepreneurs supported under the current financial cycle.

“Edo State is the first among six supported states implementing this activity, and we believe others will follow suit,” Omoruyi added.

Sessions facilitated by officials from NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria focused on regulatory compliance, certification and product standardisation to ensure participants meet both national and international quality benchmarks.