Agric Commissioner Attributes Ministry’s Successes To God

… Leads Management, Staff, Agriculture Stakeholders To Thanksgiving Service
By Edidiong Obot
ITU
The commissioner for agriculture has attributed the successes recorded by the Ministry of Agriculture to divine intervention, saying that without God’s support, the ministry would not have been able to overcome the numerous challenges confronting the sector.
Dr Offiong Offor stated this on Sunday during a thanksgiving service organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Christian Life Centre, Ikot Obio Enang, Itam Flyover, with the theme “When God Is on Your Side,” drawn from Psalms 124:1–10.
According to Offor, it has become the ministry’s annual tradition to return all glory to God for His faithfulness, explaining that the decision to hold the thanksgiving service was informed by the need to publicly acknowledge God’s protection and guidance, especially in the face of economic pressures, environmental challenges and other constraints affecting agricultural development.
“If the Lord had not been on our side, we would not be where we are today. The grace of God has been evident in the successes recorded under the ARISE Agenda of the present administration. This thanksgiving is our way of returning all the glory to God for His guidance, protection and the progress achieved so far,” the commissioner said, urging the congregation to participate in the online e-registration and continue supporting the governor.
Earlier, in his sermon, Pastor Nam-Okuo Orok, who ministered on the theme, explained that Psalms 124 emphasises God as the ultimate source of help and deliverance, noting that the psalmist’s declaration shows that human strength alone cannot guarantee success without God’s backing.
Orok urged leaders and public servants to always acknowledge God in the discharge of their duties, stressing that agriculture, in particular, depends greatly on divine favour due to factors such as weather conditions, security and natural resources that are beyond human control.
He further explained that when God is on one’s side, all efforts prosper, citing Genesis 26:2–12.
According to him, such a person also enjoys favour before God and men (1 Samuel 18:10–14), while enemies become fearful, adding that divine backing guarantees deliverance, safety and victory, ensuring that believers do not become victims.
The cleric noted that for God to be on one’s side, there must be trust, obedience and total dependence on Him, adding that such commitment makes one God’s possession.
He further appreciated the commissioner and management team for choosing Christian Life Centre for the thanksgiving service, while assuring that they will continue to pray for the ministry.
The commissioner reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening food security and improving farmers’ livelihoods across the state, assuring that policies and programmes would continue to be pursued with diligence and the fear of God.
The thanksgiving service featured praise and worship, ministration by the Agro Angels, special prayers for farmers, the agricultural sector and the state, as well as thanksgiving offerings. High point of the event was prayers for the staff of the ministry, the state government and the governor.