AKSG Invests N890m As Start-up For Collectives In Phase 1 NFWP

… Commissions Ultra-modern Palm Oil Processing Mill At Abak
By Solomon Umanah
ABAK
A total of N890 million has so far been invested by the Akwa Ibom State Government as start up capital for the collectives in the phase 1 of the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) in the state.
  The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who disclosed this, Monday, during the commissioning of the ultra-modern Palm Oil Processing Mill at Oku village in Abak Local Government Area, said the fund was injected into the project as revolving loan for the beneficiaries of the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) under the first phase of the project in the State.
  Eno, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, said already the State government has paid the sum of N450 million as counterpart funding for the scale up of the project in other local government areas of Akwa Ibom, aside the six local government areas initially used for the life-transforming project.
He directed the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs Inibehe Etukudo, the delivery advisor for NFWP, Dr Ini Adiakpan, and the State project coordinator, Barr Ofonime Etuknwa, to liaise with the World Bank’s technical team to ensure immediate commencement of the project in the remaining local government areas of the state.
The governor also directed the chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Mrs Ime Charles, to provide needed security for the project’s location, assuring that the roads leading to the mill will be constructed by the state government, as well as provision of solar-powered lighting in the area.
While expressing satisfaction over the completion of the processing mill, the governor said that the project had been replicated in the 11 wards of Abak Local Government Area, thereby demonstrating his administration’s commitment to entrepreneurship and inclusive economic development.
  Eno pointed out that the project was designed to expose the women to the technology-driven operations as opposed to the labour-intensive style hitherto adopted by the beneficiaries in the production of palm oil within their respective communities.
The governor further disclosed that arrangement had been concluded with prospective buyers for the export of palm oil produced at the various mills, advising the beneficiaries to step up their production capacity in order to meet up with the current demand for the product.
In her remarks, the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Lady Helen Obareki, expressed joy over the completion of the project, describing it as the fulfillment of her late mother’s vision for the women.
  Obareki, who expressed appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for his gender-friendly policies and programmes, urged the beneficiaries to take full ownership of the project and ensure that the facilities there were protected at all times.
Setting the tone for the inauguration of the processing mill, the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, Mrs Inibehe Etukudo, said the palm oil processing mill was already replicated in the 11 wards of Abak Local Government Area, affirming that, “For the women to have this type of facility, there is all amount of hope that they will be able to run their families successfully”.
Also speaking, the commissioner for information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, thanked Governor Umo Eno for siting life-touching projects in Abak Local Government Area, and solicited continued support of the people toward Governor Eno’s administration in the state.
In her remarks, the chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Lady Ime Charles, thanked Governor Eno for the establishment of the technology-driven processing mills in the area, expressing optimism that the projects would enhance the living conditions of the women and their families.
Giving a brief insight to the project, the State coordinator of Nigeria For Women Project, Barr Ofonime Etuknwa, said NFWP was a project owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government, guaranteed by the federal government of Nigeria and assisted by the World Bank with a view to empowering the women in their various clusters, disclosing that over 39,000 women have been mobilised into clusters across the state, with each mill having the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of palm fruits daily.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the delivery advisor to the governor on Nigeria For Women Project, Dr Ini Adiakpan, the village head of Oku Abak, Obong Okokon Udoma, and a beneficiary, Mrs Comfort Etim, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries.
Highpoint of the event was the official inauguration of the Great Achievers Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd by the governor, in company of other state officials.