A middle-aged visually impaired man from Ikot Akpa Nkuk in Ukanafun Local Government Area, Mr Aniebiet Emmanuel Afiaowo has appealed to well -placed individuals, organizations and Government at all levels to assist him to procure modern Palm oil and Cassava processing equipment to alleviate the suffering he is encountering in his processing mill.
Mr Afiaowo whose processing mill is located on Number 30 Ukanafun Road , Ikot Akpa Nkuk said that the Palm Oil and Cassava processing manual equipment he bought since 1997 are now obsolete because the capacity has been overstretched.
He lamented that the engines are now giving him headache before it can start due to its dilapidated state.
Mr Afiaowo therefore called on governments, groups and individuals to come to his aid by providing him with modern engines to amieliorate his suffering and that of women who patronise the mill.
According to him, a lot of women who are into Palm Oil processing in the rural community are no longer patronising his mill because of the stress they encountered especially with slow pace of work done by the engines.
Afiaowo recalled that he was one of the few persons at Ikot Akpa Nkuk in 1997 to set up a Cassava and Oil Palm mill to assist Women to process their palm produce with ease.
Mr Afiaowo said though he is visually impaired, he has the desire of expanding his business if provided with modern equipment to boost the Cassava and Palm Oil processing .
He commended governments at all levels for advocating the return to agriculture which he said should be the mainstay of the economy, stressing that, rural women are poised to embrace agriculture as a career because of its numerous benefits to the development of nation’s economy, food sufficiency and security.
Afiaowo, who particularly hailed the Dakadda philosophy of Governor Udom Emmanuel administration, hinted that before the ideology came on stream ,he had risen to the faith of greatness having established the Processing Mill since 1997.
He praised the Governor for the return of peace in Ukanafun and other parts of the state and appealed to the Governor to extend his benevolence to him .
While acknowledging the contributions of Feyrep, The pet project of the Governor’s wife to enhancement of families, Women and vulnerable, Mr Afiaowo said he would be appreciative if Feyrep comes to his aid as well.
Mr Afiaowo who said he was not born blind is married with children and the Mill is the only source of livelihood .
