Governor Mbah Allocates ₦60 Million Counterpart Fund for Livestock Project in Enugu 

By Adeke Chukwuka

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Thursday announced the immediate release of ₦60 million as a counterpart fund for the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in Enugu. The disclosure was made by Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES.

Nnajieze expressed satisfaction with the governor’s strategic approach to achieving food sufficiency, a balanced diet, and exports of agro-allied produce.

She praised Governor Mbah’s commitment to growing the state’s economy from US$4.4 billion to US$30 billion, eradicating poverty, enhancing agro-allied activities, and involving women and youth in the livestock value chain. She confirmed that the six-year project, which began in 2022, would be locally integrated into the state and receive ongoing attention and support from the governor.

The L-PRES coordinator emphasized that the project plays a crucial role in the administration’s efforts to boost the economy, empower livestock farmers, and generate employment. The project aims to enhance production, train farmers, promote modern livestock farming methods, and support other key economic sectors. The governor’s ambition to eradicate poverty is considered attainable through strategic policies and initiatives like L-PRES.

Nnajieze highlighted that paying the counterpart fund allows the state to collaborate with the World Bank to combat hunger and malnutrition. She praised the positive impact of well-designed policies on the economy and people’s living standards.

L-PRES aims to enhance livestock production, sustainability, and value addition through infrastructure and technological advancements in the livestock value chain.

The coordinator stated that the upcoming project aligns with the government’s new priorities by increasing livestock productivity and attracting youth and private sector players to livestock farming. 

The state offers substantial opportunities for investors in this sector, with a conducive environment and attractive incentives. The program focuses on capacity building, administrative improvements, and implementing a crisis management system for the livestock subsector.

Earlier, Governor Mbah allocated ₦274 million as a counterpart fund for the state’s International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD/VCDP) and ₦450 million for the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) in August. These initiatives aim to enhance food security in the state.