The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has launched the Akwa Ibom State Tree Crop Revolution, with the distribution of more than 620,000 improved oil palm seedlings to farmers across the 31 local government areas of the state.
The launch, held at the rehabilitated headquarters of the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme in Uyo, marks a major step in the state government’s agricultural transformation drive under the ARISE Agenda.
Governor Eno described the initiative as a return to Akwa Ibom’s historic strength in oil palm production, noting that the crop remains a symbol of wealth, heritage and enterprise for the people of the state. He said the programme is designed to create enduring prosperity for families, boost rural incomes and provide raw materials for agro-industrial development.
The Governor also used the occasion to recommission the revived AKADEP office complex, abandoned for over 15 years, reiterating his administration’s resolve to restore abandoned public projects with economic value to the people.
“Legacy project is to keep government working, provide for the people and protect their welfare,” he said.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, described the programme as “the launch of hope, prosperity and goodness” for Akwa Ibom, thanking the Governor for what he called sustained investment in agriculture through grants to farmers, school farming programmes, farm mechanisation and extension services.
Chairman of the State Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Okon Ansa, explained that the five-year household and community-based model is aimed at empowering smallholder farmers with 40 elite tenera oil palm seedlings each at no cost. He said the model is expected to generate over 60,000 hectares of oil palm cultivation statewide and position Akwa Ibom among Nigeria’s leading oil palm producers.
Speaking on behalf of farmers, AFAN Chairperson Mrs. Philomena Ntuen commended the Governor for the intervention, saying farmers across the state have benefited from grants and access to mechanised farming equipment, and pledged continued support for the administration’s agricultural programmes.
Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, Dr. Isiona Gold, reaffirmed the institute’s partnership with the state government, noting that Akwa Ibom remains central to Nigeria’s oil palm genetic heritage. He disclosed that NIFOR has already delivered the first batch of premium seedlings and will continue weekly distribution to local government areas.
According to NIFOR, the programme is projected to add over 300,000 tonnes of palm oil production and contribute billions of naira to the state economy at full maturity.
The initiative is expected to create cross-generational wealth for farming households while laying the foundation for expanded agro-processing and industrialisation in Akwa Ibom State.
By; Ikechukwu Agbamegbue, Uyo.
