Agricultural Revolution: Gov Eno Launches Oil Palm Tree Crops Revolution

By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
In his effort towards restoring Akwa Ibom’s place as a leading producer of oil palm in the nation, the governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno, has launched a Tree Crops Revolution initiative in the State.
Eno, who launched the initiative, Thursday, at a ceremony which took place at the premises of the recently revamped Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), in Uyo, with an initial procurement of 620,000 oil palm seedlings for distribution to farmers, said the initiative was in line with the agricultural revolution component of the ARISE Agenda and in furtherance of his administration’s agriculture and food security drive.
He noted that oil palm had long been central to the region’s identity and way of life, adding that his administration was restoring the State’s longstanding cultural and economic heritage, recalling also that oil palm in the South South region, particularly in Akwa Ibom, was more than a crop, but a symbol of wealth, heritage, enterprise, and community life, adding, “today, we are returning to our generational lifestyle because oil palm has always been a major resource and source of our fore-fathers’ wealth”.
He assured that the State was going to take its rightful place by massively growing oil palm trees across the length and breath of the State, as the initiative was a means of creating wealth in the State.
Eno disclosed that for proper guidance, monitoring, and evaluation of the exercise to optimally achieve its set objectives and goal, all farmers selected for the oil palm tree planting revolution in the State have been profiled, with 500 households per local government area.
According to  him, “three years from now, you will begin to harvest to become a millionaire, and it will last forever from generation to generation. We are by this programme placing a major wealth in your hands to grow and prosper significantly”, enjoining citizens to fully embrace the exercise to emancipate themselves economically.
   He commended the remarkable collaboration between the State Government and the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, to ensure speedy and reliable supplies of the high quality seedlings, and implored the management of NIFOR to endeavour to deliver on the expected supply schedule of the 620,000 seedlings of the oil palm procured.
Eno recalled that AKADEP had been abandoned for many years and was in a sorry state on his first visit, appreciating the Direct Labour committee, for interpreting the dream of revamping the facility.
According to him, rather than abandoning projects left uncompleted by past administrations, his government will continue to resuscitate economically viable ones for the benefit of the citizenry.
Commissioner for agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, in her remarks, praised Eno for his committed investments in agriculture with specific mention of the equipment leasing company, grants, input to farmers, and the Ibom model farm.
Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, who doubles as State chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, thanked Governor Eno for his bold initiative towards repositioning and recaliberating the trajectory of oil palm production in the State.
Udo congratulated the governor for his pragmatic leadership approach and transformational policies, and assured that local government chairmen will support the tree crops revolution initiative.
Executive director and chief executive officer of NIFOR, Dr. Gold Leonard Isona, commended Governor Eno for his administration’s exceptional foresight and unwavering commitment towards empowering Akwa Ibom citizens through the agricultural revolution vision of the ARISE agenda.
Isona described the event as not just a ceremony, but a visionary move towards the future of sustainable independence, food security and rural prosperity.
The paramount ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, commended the governor for his development strides, especially the agricultural revolution and investment in tree crops, and also assured him of the support of the traditional institution for the programme.