LAGOS
The coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State has called for strategic international partnerships to drive agricultural transformation in the state.
Lady Helen Eno Obareki made the call, recently, during the opening and guided tour of the Netherlands Pavilion at Agrofood Nigeria 2026, the 11th edition of the Agrofood Nigeria exhibition, which took place in Lagos.
Lady Obareki invited Dutch investors to consider long-term investments in Akwa Ibom, particularly in the areas of dairy development and smart greenhouse farming.
“We, therefore, invite the Dutch business community to look beyond the pavilion and towards the lush, peaceful, and fertile lands of Akwa Ibom. Whether it is in developing our dairy value chain or establishing smart greenhouse clusters, we are ready to be your primary partner in Nigeria,” Lady Obareki said.
She described the Netherlands as a global leader in agro-industrial innovation, particularly in greenhouse technology and high-yield dairy systems, noting that its success model offers valuable lessons for Akwa Ibom’s ongoing agricultural transformation.
Lady Obareki emphasized that Akwa Ibom’s agricultural drive, anchored on the ARISE Agenda of the Umo Eno-led administration, is focused on sustainability, mechanisation, and rural development, noting that Akwa Ibom is drawing inspiration from the Dutch philosophy of “doing more with less” to boost productivity.
Highlighting the role of social infrastructure in agricultural success, the coordinator who stressed that technological advancement must go hand-in-hand with community development, outlined interventions carried out by the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), which has installed solar-powered water systems across 13 local government areas to support domestic use and irrigation.
She listed key agricultural projects in Akwa Ibom to include a 50-hectare integrated agro-economic hub, the Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, currently being developed, which she described as presenting opportunities for the adoption of Dutch greenhouse technologies to guarantee year-round food production in the state.
Other initiatives she listed included the establishment of an Agricultural Equipment Leasing Company to enhance mechanisation, the Tree Crop Revolution and, the development of the Blue Economy in Oron, all aimed at creating a diversified and investor-friendly agricultural landscape.
While restating Akwa Ibom’s readiness for foreign investment, Lady Obareki maintained that Akwa Ibom is a peaceful and secure destination, nationally recognised as a “Safe Haven,” with the stability required for international business.
Furthermore, she noted that the state boasts of modern infrastructure, including an extensive road network, Ibom Air for seamless travel, and the ARISE Palm Resort, an eco-friendly leisure and tourism destination nearing completion.
In a keynote address, the managing director of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, spoke of the great potential for Nigeria’s Agric industry in export, emphasising the need to build BULOG-style national reserves, invest heavily in irrigation, practice market liberalisation over protectionism and ensure long-term policy continuity, if Nigeria is to stem the tide of the current economic shock.
Goodwill messages were received from the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Bengt van Loosdrecht; Diplomats, investors, businessmen, as well as other stakeholders across the agriculture and food value chain, at the 11th edition of the Agrofood Nigeria exhibition, where participants explored innovations, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
Lady Helen Eno Obareki was accompanied to the exhibition by the commissioner for agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor; the general manager of the Ibom Equipment Leasing Company Limited, Engr. Ifiok Udo Ekott, and the director of Agribusiness in the Governor’s Office, Mr. Ofonmbuk Nelson.
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