Lifeline for 209,315 farmers as LAPO supports farming with N3.1Bn

… 55.4% of young adults jobless

By Bose Adelaja

CITIZENS COMPASS – Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) has supported rural farmers with N3.1 billion in the first quarter of 2023.

The funds were disbursed between January and March 2023 to 209,315 farmers across 303 branches nationwide through the LAPO Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (LARDI).

LAPO Executive Director, Dr Honestus Ayobami Obadiora disclosed this in a statement signed by James-Wisdom Abhulimen, Head, Programme & Communications of the NGO, on Thursday, May 18, 2023. 

While reeling out LAPO’s achievement for the first quarter of 2023, the Executive Director said 

He explained that LAPO addresses challenges limiting farmers’ productivity and income such as the non-availability of inputs for improved farm yield and limited access to finance, adding that the organization is also engaged in the capacity development of rural farmers and business owners through on-farm demonstration, workshop and training programmes.

According to him, LAPO was strongly committed to the mandate of improving rural agricultural development, food security and the general living conditions of rural dwellers, particularly women-headed households and youths through flexible and affordable financial services.

Also in the first quarter of 2023, the NGO has employed 156 persons through its employment generation programme.

The employees include nine Branch Managers, 141 Client Support Officers and Six Data Entry Staff bringing the total staff strength in the organization to 1,775 and over 10,000 across the LAPO Ecosystem.

In his congratulatory message, charged the new employees to imbibe the virtues of integrity, honesty and commitment to duty, which he said accounts largely for the exponential growth the organization has recorded over the years.

He said LAPO places top priority on staff career development and overall wellbeing; allocating resources and providing motivational incentives for better performance.

Dr Obadiora expressed worries about the staggering rate of unemployment in Nigeria, noting that over 55.4% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are unemployed and an additional 20% working below their skillset.

He, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of LAPO to addressing the challenges of youth unemployment, restiveness and poverty in the country through job creation and business support services

… organises cancer awareness programme 

In a related development, LAPO has restated its commitment to cancer prevention and control in Nigeria through the implementation of the LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO-C4) project.

Over the years, the organization has been involved in community health improvement and playing a major role in addressing the challenges of malaria, maternal and child health issues particularly in rural communities across the country. 

During the first quarter of 2023, LAPO created cancer mass awareness in target communities across the country, sensitized 10,511 community members on cancer, screened and referred 576 persons for further screening and treatment under the project in government-approved health facilities. 

Obadiora who expressed concern that almost 102,000 new cases of cancer occur annually in Nigeria, traced the issues militating against cancer control in Nigeria to poor awareness and inadequate access to screening services,

He disclosed that 11,113 community members were enlightened between January and March 2023 with cancer Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials.