FFUE is a platform for sustainable development of the informal sector
In this interview with REGIS ANUKWUOJI, in Enugu, Ochie Onyechenaru Chukwu, national president of Unemployed and Empowerment, a non-governmental organization explains how his organization is effectively fighting unemployment
through management and guidance support services in implementing some
innovative programmes, including youth/ graduate employment, agricultural development and farmers empowerment, special public works, among others.
through management and guidance support services in implementing some
innovative programmes, including youth/ graduate employment, agricultural development and farmers empowerment, special public works, among others.
Q: As a young man what prompted you to go into this venture?
I decided to do this is because I am looking at the society at large, especially the Nigerian state. You can see that unemployment has become an issue and a great challenge to various governments at all levels, to the extent that everybody has to be articulate and think outside the box for the best way out. However, it is a global issue so to say, but Foundation for Unemployed and Empowerment (FFUE) as we speak is a platform for a sustainable development in the informal sector. You also know that the work force both in developed and developing economies is being consumed by two-thirds majority, mainly from the informal sector. This is because they are unregulated; and the labour force does not take notice of them when it comes to job security.
But FFUE is trying to implement some innovative programmes that will make all the people the informal sectors gainfully employed. That is number one. And then, when it comes to agriculture/ farmers empowerment program, we empower farmers by giving them input grants to support their agricultural activities, to enhance their output. You know equally that once farmers increase their output, it will enhance food security. It also demonstrates a platform to enhance public private partnership (PPP).
I am also happy to say that we have another platform where we have donors, where funds are given. We call it “Agribusiness Development Initiative.” Under this platform, if you have any good agricultural proposal that needs funding, through us and our partners, we would fund it. This one is a loan, not grant. It is a loan, starting from N2 million, and it is on a single-digit interest rate. That is what we are doing. When we are talking about donors for now, we only have attached funds for development. UAE are the ones funding this project, through FFUE; and our doors are still open for partnerships for interested donors who wish to cause agricultural revolution in Nigeria.
We are happy that Nigeria is beginning to get close to self-sufficiency in food production. Many Nigerians are going back to farming; and people no longer see farming as outdated fashion. But, we should think more of how to develop it, because almost everything comes from agriculture; even the shirt we are wearing. I always say this that Nigeria, in terms of agriculture, has all it takes to feed the whole world. We have over 37 percent arable fertile land uncultivated. We have over nine months of good weather, which is the key for a sustainable development in this country. In this time of recession, we should focus more on agriculture. Let every Nigerian, not only the youths, go into farming. But why we are emphasizing on the youths is because they are the leaders of tomorrow. However, today I do not know, the youths are not doing the needful, when it comes to human capital development. You see sometimes if you ask people why they are not in business they normally say that they do not have a startup capital. We have different kinds of capital, some may have the startup capital, but lack the mental capital. The mental capital involves a whole lot of things, narrowing to knowing the right principle to follow. But a lot of youths will tell you that they don’t have a startup capital. To me, capital is not the main challenge in starting a business. The main challenge is the mental capital. You must know all about what you want to get involved in, because a man who fails to plan, plans to fail. Therefore, we must come up with a formidable platform that must educate and speak for the masses, of which about 82 percent are youths. So, what FFAUE is doing today is to make sure we form a formidable platform to make the informal sector vibrant.
How old is this foundation and in how many states are you operating?
We started seven years ago, and today we are in 12 states, and hope to be in all the states across the nation. Our doors are open to work with like-minds.
We started seven years ago, and today we are in 12 states, and hope to be in all the states across the nation. Our doors are open to work with like-minds.
You talked about giving grants, how many persons have benefited so far?
That is why I said that when you come to project implementation, you first of all start with appraisal. We started our pilot phase in Enugu, which many farmers in Enugu benefited from. We intend to do the same across the 12 states, after which the project starts proper.
That is why I said that when you come to project implementation, you first of all start with appraisal. We started our pilot phase in Enugu, which many farmers in Enugu benefited from. We intend to do the same across the 12 states, after which the project starts proper.
You also talked about loan, what are the qualifications for the loan?
When you want to engage yourself in anything, you must have an idea of what you want to go into. We are talking about Agribusiness Initiative. It stands to empower people through FFUE, to make sure that people embrace agriculture. But the loan we are talking about starts from N2 million and above, on a single-digit interest rate. The only guarantor to qualify you access to this loan, is for you to have a valid registered company; also register with the NGO; and also a proposal to ascertain that this is what you want to do. During this period we will know if you have the passion for the project, or not.
Any collateral?
When it comes to agricultural loan, your collateral is your farmland, and that which you want to do. So, as a farmer or agribusiness personnel, you must have something on ground. If you are into the process, you must have acquired some machinery. If you are
into production, you must have a vast farmland; if you are a marketer, you must have your marketing platform. So, these are the collaterals for the loans.
When it comes to agricultural loan, your collateral is your farmland, and that which you want to do. So, as a farmer or agribusiness personnel, you must have something on ground. If you are into the process, you must have acquired some machinery. If you are
into production, you must have a vast farmland; if you are a marketer, you must have your marketing platform. So, these are the collaterals for the loans.
What is the NGO’s relationship with Federal Government, in terms of policies?
When you talk about relationships, we are civil society organizations. We do not depend on government for funding. Government has not been very good in business, despite the fact that it’s the best. Governments are not good business managers. All we need from government is to create a good working environment. NGOs and other private sectors are the ones to give input when it comes to PPP. All we need from government is regulations to ensure that those in NGO business are not fraudulent.
How does your organization give out grants/ loans?
When it comes to grants, we work with cooperative societies, because they have their bylaws. They know who is who. It is like forming an association where everyone knows who is who. We work with cooperative societies in our agricultural grants program, because these are the people on ground. They know their farmlands and everything about them. It is a platform already established by these farmers. So, if you are coming, you come through that platform for empowerment, so that we can checkmate them when it comes to monitoring and evaluation. We also have already market for the products on the agreement that we buy up to 80 percent of their produce to encourage them. This is to avoid a situation where some of them will say they incurred losses for not having modern agricultural techniques.
Any advice to government or farmers?
My advice to government is that they should put in place institutional alignment. If you are going back to agriculture, it must not be on paper, it must be matched with action. The environment must be made conducive for Nigerians in all sectors of agriculture; and
every ministry must know what their contributions should be. To the individuals, they should think what is best to do, and discover the real you, and work toward achieving it.
every ministry must know what their contributions should be. To the individuals, they should think what is best to do, and discover the real you, and work toward achieving it.