NNPC Foundation to Train 6,000 Vulnerable Farmers Nationwide to Boost Food Security
The NNPC Foundation on Friday announced plans to train 6,000 vulnerable farmers across Nigeria as part of its effort to strengthen food security, reduce reliance on food imports, and uplift rural livelihoods. Speaking at the flag-off of the Training for Farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja/Nigeria Cluster, the Managing Director of the foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said the programme will cover all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Arukwe explained that the initiative is a direct response to food insecurity in Nigeria, stressing that the training will increase local food production and improve the national food supply. She described the intervention as a sustainable approach designed to empower farmers with knowledge and skills that will move them from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture. According to her, the Abuja launch marked the beginning of the training in the northern geopolitical zones, starting with the North Central, where the programme had already taken off in Kogi, Kwara, and Benue States. She further noted that the training for farmers in the southern zones had commenced in the second quarter of 2025 and had already been concluded.
Arukwe said the programme targets uplifting the living standards of farmers by equipping them with modern farming techniques that address persistent challenges such as lack of quality seedlings, poor yields, limited access to tools, transportation issues, climate change, and inadequate knowledge. She added that the training will expose farmers to practices that allow all-year-round planting, improved yield, stronger resilience against climate change, and ultimately greater income. Rather than short-term relief, she stressed, the initiative is designed to create lasting impact that will benefit communities and the country as a whole.
“It is pertinent to note that rather than provide food to feed people in the short term, it is better to teach them how to produce food and achieve lasting impact and sustainability. Beyond the numbers, the programme will empower individuals and communities for food sustenance and hopefully create a viable food export market,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the knowledge gained from the sessions will ripple across communities, boost productivity, and improve Nigeria’s food supply chain, thereby reducing reliance on imports. The Managing Director also emphasized that the long-term vision of the programme is to stabilize food production, strengthen rural economies, and contribute to national economic growth.
The Mandate Secretary of Agriculture and Food for the FCT, Ibrahim Yaro, commended the NNPC Foundation for the initiative, describing agriculture as a solution to about 60 percent of Nigeria’s social challenges. He noted that food production has already increased in the FCT and prices are beginning to come down. Yaro, however, cautioned beneficiaries against misusing the starter packs they will receive from the programme, remarking humorously, “Do not marry more wives with the starter packs from the foundation.” He urged the foundation to ensure farmers are adequately supported after training so they can put the skills to effective use, observing that 75 percent of Nigerian farmers still operate at subsistence level.
The NNPC Foundation reiterated that the project is designed to build sustainability rather than provide palliative relief, emphasizing that equipping farmers with modern knowledge and resources is vital for food security, community resilience, and long-term economic growth.