500 youths to be engaged as Akwa Ibom Govt partners Solidaridad to revamp abandoned oil palm plantation
… it is a Goldmine with Huge Potentials – ED Agric Investments
… We will turn this Place to Tourism Haven, Oil Palm is our Niche – Development Partners, Solidaridad
After about 25 years of abandonment by successive governments in the state, the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration is perfecting plans in partnership with Solidaridad to revamp Akwa Palm Industries Limited with an estimated initial employment of about 500 Akwa Ibom youths.
This was made known on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 when the Executive Director, Akwa Ibom Agric Investments, Pastor Umo Eno led the Directorate and development partners – Solidaridad Nigeria- on an assessment inspection tour to the plantation.
Speaking with newsmen after about a five hour tour around the dilapidated facility, the Executive Director said it was unfortunate that such a gold mine with great potentials, was allowed to decay, and commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his foresight, and interest in revamping the oil plantation.
He said the Directorate is an initiative of the Governor’s high premium on agriculture for food sufficiency and wealth creation; with a mandate to appraise all agricultural investment proposals submitted to the Corporation by investors, attract and promote domestic capital mobilisation and foreign investment for agricultural development, and coordinating the implementation of agricultural investments in the state amongst others, and which has led to the partnership talks with Solidaridad.
According to him, the Akwa Palm is a dream that had been neglected, but holds great potentials, adding that when revamped, it would become a centre piece and a cynosure.
According to him, “this is a dream that had been abandoned, so we must be thankful to Governor Udom Emmanuel for his vision, foresight, love, dedication that he has for the people of Akwa Ibom. This has been abandoned for 25 years. It takes a governor and a government with a large heart to venture into areas like this. You have seen all the wastages here, the palm fruits are wild, but I am very happy because I see a future of prosperity for Akwa Ibom and her people.
“This will be a centre piece where other states will come to appreciate what Akwa Ibom has done. This farm traverses three local government areas and you know what that means on a plane land, and I think we can work with the communities, and create jobs. Initially, I see nothing less than 500 jobs here and with revenue to government and other benefits.”
Also speaking, the Programme Manager, Oil Palm of Solidaridad Nigeria, Mr. Kene Chudi Onukwube said the tour was to afford them a visual perception of the facility, adding that the plantation is very wide, rich, and a goldmine, which had been wasting for too long.
He said Solidaridad is a global network registered as a foundation at the Chamber of Commerce in Utrecht, the Netherlands and is working together with different countries for improved agricultural and economic activities.
Mr. Kene said from the assessments, the dilapidated oil palm plantation holds great potentials with boundless benefits adding that his organization was ready and has the requisite expertise to transform the plantation to a tourism haven.
In his words; “I think the Akwa Ibom State Government has done the right thing by waking up to this dream, and not just by waking up to the dream but most importantly, picking the right partner (Solidaridad) to work with, because oil palm is our niche. We will turn this place around.”
He said beside being a source of revenue for the state, it will be a place that people will look forward to coming to, both from within and outside the state and even internationally. “People will see this place as one natural resort to return to, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. For the community people resident in this area, it brings back socio-ecological resilience for the community, because their ecology will be revamped.
“That is in addition to the fact that they will be making a lot of money from here. For instance they will be part of the workers in this place, part of those that will provide information for tourists, and part of those that can tell the story of oil palm development from scratch to finish. The reason is that here, there will be processes of land preparation, nursery development, plantation development and palm oil processing, and a place people cannot do without to have a taste of quality palm oil in the state,” he explained.
On his part, the youth president of the Etebi Idung Assan, Esit Eket Local Government area, expressed delight with the development and commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for the move to revamp the oil palm plantation.
While pledging full support to ensure success of the project, he appealed to the community leaders and youths to do likewise.
For the record, the dilapidated Palm oil plantation is about 24000 hectares, spanning through six communities in three local government areas including; Etebi Idung Assan, Akwata, and Ntakinyang in Esit Eket, Urung Ubo in Urue Offong Oruko, and Orukin and Uyienge in Mbo local Government Area, all in Akwa Ibom State.
