Weighing of chili produce for offtake. Photo:GIZ NICOP
27,000 beneficiaries have been trained in tomato, ginger, leather and garment value chains through the Nigeria Competitiveness Project (NICOP) since 2019 when the project was inaugurated.
The project which was aimed at improving competitiveness in the food and garment value chains in the country was funded by the German Cooperation in Nigeria (GIZ) and the European Union.
Implemented by the GIZ Pro-Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria (SEDIN) Programme, NICOP was piloted in 8 states of Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Abia and Kebbi.
At the handing over of the project to the implementing partners in Abuja on Thursday, the Head of the NICOP team, Ana Vinambres said it was designed to promote inclusion to help women to deliver meaningful opportunity for economic empowerment and build capacity of beneficiaries.
The Country Director of GIZ, Markus Wagner said the event was to reflect on the gains of the programme.
”NICOP’s achievements extends beyond economic impacts. The project has also contributed to positive gender outcomes and has explored opportunities to incorporate digital and green solutions in proposals moving forward,” he said.
For the EU representative, Frank Okafor, NICOP was part of the West Africa Competitiveness program and should be emulated in other states in Nigeria.
Sharing their experience, a female leather artisan in Kano, Maryam Yusuf said the programme changed her business for the better.
Also a farmer in Ogun, Samuel Abiodun said through NICOP, he planted a better variety of tomatoe which led to better yield.
Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu