The NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPC Ltd., has extended its Vulnerable Farmers Training Programme to Northern Nigeria, marking the commencement of the second phase of the initiative. This expansion reinforces the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening food security, driving economic empowerment, and promoting sustainable national development.
The programme, designed to equip farmers with modern agricultural practices, focuses on areas such as climate-smart farming, organic fertilization, post-harvest loss reduction, and strategies for improved market access.
The first phase, which took place across the South-East, South-South, and South-West regions, trained and empowered more than 4,000 farmers, recording remarkable success in enhancing productivity and linking participants to viable markets.
The second phase will cover the North-East, North-West, and North-Central geopolitical zones, with training sessions scheduled across six states as well as in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Speaking during the flag-off of the first phase in Nsukka, Enugu State, Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, underscored the initiative’s alignment with the Federal Government’s agricultural transformation agenda. The programme, she said, is aimed at boosting food security, improving productivity, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers nationwide.
“At NNPC Ltd, we recognize that agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for over 70% of Nigeria’s population. Yet, many farmers are still 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 is to provide farmers with the tools, skills, and opportunities they need to transition from subsistence to sustainable, commercial-scale agriculture.
