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| 11 December 2022
The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for The Niger Delta, LIFE-ND Project has held a Nutrition Mainstreaming Support to communities of Iyamoyong, Ohana, Ochon and Ogambang in Central Senatorial District of Cross River State.
LIFE -ND is a project of the Federal Government of Nigeria, designed in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The project is in response to the limited readily available options for the disadvantaged youth and women in the rural and suburban communities to improve their means of livelihood and help them to live decent lives.
Speaking during the technical session at Iyamonyong, Obubra Local Government Area Of Cross River State, Dr Clement Uwem, the Rural institution, youth and Gender Coordinator IFAD-LIFE ND PROJECT said that, the program, is aimed at enlightening and educating beneficiaries in the communities on healthy living. That, adequate, nutritious and balance meals, rich in essential amino acid/ micro nutrients are necessary for growth and development of the body. He enthused that good food does not necessarily have to be expensive but the knowledge of applying the right combination of different feed ingredients in the right proportion has capacity to engender good health. He added that, the combination of carbohydrates, protein, fat/oil, mineral, vitamins and water has the potential of providing the right dietary supplement for the wellness of the body.
Also, giving credence to good living, the State Rural institution Gender and Youth Officer, Mrs Ewor Myke Edet, who represented the State Project Coordinator, Mr Innocent M. Ogbin reminded participants of the availability of rich, fresh unadulterated variety of feedstuff peculiar to each of their environment which nature had endowed them. Noting, that these they must explore for their nutritional requirement.
He appreciated the National project Coordinating Office for assisting farmers in the rural Communities of Cross River State.
" This activity targeted four communities and, is aimed at educating beneficiaries, mostly farmers, on eating healthy meals that are locally available using the orange flesh sweet potatoes as a bases.
" We taught them on how to plant, produce and process drinks, juice and smoothie instead of purchasing and consuming carbonated drinks". The knowledge and skills acquired shall go a long way in stimulating the desires for healthy fruit drinks and invoking entrepreneurship development in this regard ".
In her testimony, Eyim Eucheria a teacher in Government Secondary School Iyamonyong, rehearsed with excitement the processes involved in production of orange flesh sweet potato drinks
" The program is interesting. I've acquired more knowledge and skills. I can produce potato drinks. It is something we have never experienced before I appreciate the LIFE ND PROJECT".
"We shall extended this knowledge and skills to our schools and shall deploy our knowledge by educating our constituency on planting crops and eating healthy foods that will nourish our bodies, make us healthy and strong."
Highlight of the event was practical demonstration of production and processing of orange flesh sweet potato drinks and juice as well as presentations of farm tools such as hoes and matchetes.
Also distributed were bunches of orange flesh sweet potato vines and litres of groundnut oil to each of the participants, which comprises of over two hundreds persons made up of youths, women headed households, people with disabilities, widows, agricultural teachers and members of young farmers clubs in primary and secondary schools.
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