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DAPCO, Integrainium Sign Agreement to Boost Food Security, Agricultural Investment
Joel Ajayi
The Defence Agricultural Assets and Projects Development Company Limited (DAPCO) and Integrainium Holdings Limited have signed a Master Memorandum of Understanding (MMOU) to advance food security, agricultural investment and rural economic development in Nigeria.
The agreement, signed at Defence Holdings headquarters in Abuja, establishes a framework for collaboration on commercially viable agricultural and agribusiness projects under the Defence Rapid Agricultural Programme for Sustainable Food Security, Social Security and National Security (DRAP-SEC).
The partnership will combine DAPCO’s agricultural project development, operational and security capabilities with Integrainium’s investment oversight, commercial coordination and agricultural value-chain expertise.
The initiative is designed to strengthen food production, stimulate rural economies, create sustainable livelihoods and support communities vulnerable to insecurity. It will also expand economic opportunities for serving military personnel and veterans.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, DAPCO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed, said Nigeria needed a coordinated institutional framework to translate its agricultural potential into productive and commercially sustainable investments.
“What it has lacked — what this collaboration is specifically designed to address — is the institutional architecture to unlock that potential at scale, with security, with discipline, and with commercial viability at the centre of every decision,”Abdulhameed said.Six Agricultural Projects Identified
The agreement identifies six initial project opportunities for further assessment, commercial structuring and possible implementation.
The first involves exploring distributorship rights for Integrainium’s nano-fertiliser products, with DAPCO potentially supporting warehousing, sales, distribution logistics, farmer training and agricultural extension services.
The second project focuses on the proposed rehabilitation and revitalisation of BARC Farms in Jos through production support, infrastructure restoration, commercial restructuring and financing arrangements.
The third is the Giri Agro-Processing and Supply Chain Security Project, which seeks to explore the development of an agro-processing and aggregation facility supported by warehousing, logistics coordination and supply-chain security.
The fourth project, the ASTC–DAPCO Greenhouse Resuscitation Project
proposes the rehabilitation and operation of greenhouse facilities at the Agricultural Services and Training Centre across four locations in Plateau State. The project is expected to focus on high-value vegetables and fruits for domestic and international markets.
The fifth initiative is the proposed Namtari Integrated Crop, Livestock and Aquaculture Project, which will explore the development of 1,000 hectares of farmland in Namtari District, Yola, Adamawa State. The proposed project will cover agricultural production, processing, packaging, storage and logistics.
The sixth initiative is the DAPCO Integrated Agricultural Risk Management System (DRMS), which will deploy technology-driven solutions to improve agricultural investment planning, operational monitoring and risk management across DAPCO’s projects nationwide.
The proposed system will leverage remote sensing, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics and artificial intelligence to support decision-making, security monitoring and near-real-time assessment of agricultural operations.
According to the framework, the six opportunities form part of a broader agricultural development ecosystem connecting primary production with agro-industrial processing, mechanisation, secure logistics and structured market access.Partnership to Link Security With Commercial Agriculture.
Under the agreement, DAPCO is expected to provide agricultural project development and implementation support, operational structures, security arrangements, site protection and access facilitation, depending on the requirements of individual projects.Integrainium Holdings, the investment
vehicle of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for the Integrainium Agricultural Initiative, will provide strategic coordination, investment oversight and group-level facilitation through relevant subsidiaries.
“Our ecosystem is designed to bring these individuals into structured, income-generating economic activity,” he said.
He acknowledged the support of the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Defence Holdings Company Limited and MOFI in advancing DAPCO’s mandate and facilitating the partnership.
Ten-Year Framework for CollaborationThe MMOU provides for the establishment of a Joint Steering Committee comprising representatives of DAPCO, Integrainium Holdings and relevant specialists. The committee will coordinate implementation, review project milestones and address operational challenges.
The agreement establishes an initial 10-year framework for cooperation between the two organisations.
However, the proposed projects will be subject to feasibility studies, commercial reviews, security assessments, environmental and social evaluations, due diligence and relevant regulatory approvals.
Each project will also require a separate project-specific agreement before implementation.
In his closing remarks, Abdulhameed emphasised the need to translate the agreement into measurable outcomes, stressing that the real value of the partnership would be determined by its execution.
About DAPCO
The Defence Agricultural Assets and Projects Development Company Limited is a special-purpose company established to implement DRAP-SEC. Its mandate combines agricultural and agribusiness development with food security, social stability, economic inclusion and the welfare of serving military personnel and veterans.
The Office of the Chief of Defence Staff provides strategic and operational oversight through Defence Holdings Company Limited.About Integrainium Holdings LimitedIntegrainium Holdings Limited serves as MOFI’s holding and investment vehicle for the Integrainium Agricultural Initiative, an investment-driven
The Defence Agricultural Assets and Projects Development Company Limited is a special-purpose company established to implement DRAP-SEC. Its mandate combines agricultural and agribusiness development with food security, social stability, economic inclusion and the welfare of serving military personnel and veterans.
The Office of the Chief of Defence Staff provides strategic and operational oversight through Defence Holdings Company Limited.About Integrainium Holdings LimitedIntegrainium Holdings Limited serves as MOFI’s holding and investment vehicle for the Integrainium Agricultural Initiative, an investment-driven platform focused on commercially viable agricultural and agro-industrial value chains.
The company provides strategic coordination, governance oversight and investment management for the Integrainium Group, with operations undertaken through relevant subsidiaries and approved project vehicles.
FCT news
Beyond Displacement: How Vocational Training Is Empowering Over 100 Women and Girls in Abuja
By Joel Ajayi
For women and girls living at the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja, rebuilding their lives requires more than shelter and basic necessities. The opportunity to acquire practical skills, earn an income and provide for their families can also play a crucial role in restoring confidence and creating a pathway towards economic independence.
This aspiration informed the five-day Life Skills Bootcamp organised by GLIDE Media Foundation in partnership with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which provided more than 100 displaced women and girls with vocational training and start-up funding.
The programme, which culminated in a grand finale on Saturday, October 24, 2026, was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and financial management techniques to help them establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.
For the participants, the initiative offered an opportunity to explore income-generating activities that could help them support their families while navigating the economic difficulties associated with displacement.
Turning Skills into Opportunities
At the heart of the programme was the recognition that practical skills can open doors to economic opportunities, particularly for people facing difficult living conditions.
The bootcamp combined classroom-style sessions with hands-on vocational training, allowing participants to learn both the principles of running a business and the practical steps involved in producing goods for sale.
During the practical sessions, participants received training in making beaded slippers, baking, producing soap and preparing petroleum jelly.
They were divided into three groups, with specialised trainers demonstrating production techniques and supervising their activities.
Beyond learning how to make the products, participants received guidance on packaging, marketing and selling their goods. These additional skills were intended to help them understand how to turn their newly acquired abilities into viable small-scale businesses.
The provision of start-up funds at the conclusion of the programme was another important component, offering participants financial support to begin applying what they had learnt.
By combining vocational instruction with initial funding, the organisers sought to bridge the gap between acquiring skills and putting them to productive use.
Building Financial Confidence
The programme also recognised that earning money is only one part of running a successful business. Knowing how to manage income, control expenditure and save for future needs is equally important.
Consequently, the theoretical sessions covered budgeting, saving, expenditure planning and the need to keep personal finances separate from business funds.
Participants were encouraged to understand how financial decisions could affect their businesses and household welfare.
Facilitators also introduced digital financial services, including OPay and Moniepoint, highlighting their potential to support transactions and the management of small businesses.
The sessions provided an opportunity for participants already engaged in business to share their experiences, including the challenges of managing earnings and attracting customers.
Discussions also explored how social media could help entrepreneurs promote their products beyond their immediate communities and reach a wider customer base.
For aspiring business owners, these lessons offered a foundation for thinking beyond production to the practical demands of operating a business in an increasingly competitive environment.
Confidence, Parenting and Personal Development
While economic empowerment remained central to the initiative, the bootcamp also addressed personal development, decision-making, leadership and wellbeing.
Participants were encouraged to build confidence, identify achievable goals and recognise their capacity to contribute to their families and communities despite the challenges associated with displacement.
Parenting and child protection also featured prominently during the sessions.
Discussions covered positive parenting practices, children’s emotional wellbeing, school attendance and the difficulties of balancing childcare responsibilities with income-generating activities.
Facilitators emphasised the importance of supportive home environments and explained how parental behaviour could influence children’s development.
The inclusion of these subjects reflected the programme’s broader focus on helping participants navigate both their economic responsibilities and family obligations.
For women and girls managing several demands, the combination of livelihood training and personal development offered a more comprehensive approach to building resilience.
A Pathway Towards Economic Independence
GLIDE Media Foundation said the initiative was designed to equip displaced women and girls with practical skills that could support their families and reduce their dependence on external assistance.
The partnership with the NRS provided support for a programme that combined entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational instruction and start-up funding.
The foundation expressed hope that participants would continue developing their skills and translate the training into sustainable businesses capable of improving their economic circumstances.
However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend partly on participants’ ability to establish businesses, attract customers and manage their earnings effectively.
Continued guidance, access to markets and opportunities to strengthen their skills could further support their efforts to build sustainable livelihoods.
For the more than 100 women and girls who participated, the bootcamp represents an opportunity to move from learning to action.
Ultimately, its success will be reflected not only in the skills acquired during the five days but also in how effectively participants use their training and start-up funds to generate income, support their families and build greater economic independence.
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