By Timothy Ekpo
UYO
The Akwa Ibom State Government has expressed readiness to deepen economic, technological and institutional ties with the Republic of South Korea, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart agriculture, technology transfer, human capital development and the blue economy.
Governor Umo Eno made the call recently while welcoming the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Jeong Yo-An, to the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) where the envoy delivered a special public lecture on Artificial Intelligence, Smart Agriculture and the Development of Blue Economy Resources.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Governor Eno said Akwa Ibom was strategically positioned to benefit from stronger economic and technological relations between Nigeria and South Korea, urging Korean investors to explore the State’s vast investment opportunities.
He noted that available data put the trade volume between Nigeria and South Korea at over $2.1 billion, stressing that there was considerable room for expansion of the relationship through increased investment, technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
According to him, Akwa Ibom’s abundant natural resources, expanding infrastructure and human capital made the State an attractive destination for investors seeking to establish industries, develop businesses and explore new economic frontiers.
“Our State can benefit from the well-known South Korean technology, manufacturing prowess and first-rate products,” Eno said, urging the Ambassador to give serious consideration to the investment opportunities available in Akwa Ibom.
The governor identified Artificial Intelligence, smart agriculture and the blue economy as areas of particular interest to his administration, describing them as critical to building a diversified economy capable of creating jobs, expanding opportunities and improving the standard of living of the people.
“Akwa Ibom State can be a beneficiary of this mutual relationship. Artificial Intelligence, smart agriculture and the Blue Economy are areas of interest to my administration as we work towards the transformation of our State. Today, no sane person can ignore the role of Artificial Intelligence,” he said.
Eno described the theme of the lecture as timely and consistent with the development priorities of his administration, noting that AI was rapidly transforming economies and changing the nature of work across the world.
He said young people must be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to compete in an increasingly digital global economy.
The Governor highlighted the establishment of Youth Development Centres across the State as part of his administration’s human capital development strategy, explaining that the centres were designed to provide young people with digital, entrepreneurial and vocational skills capable of fostering innovation, employment and economic empowerment.
He said the State was particularly interested in partnerships that could strengthen the capacity of its young people to participate meaningfully in emerging sectors driven by technology and innovation.
On agriculture, Eno described the sector as one of the major pillars of the ARISE Agenda, citing the Ibom Model Farm and the recently launched Tree Crop Revolution as strategic interventions designed to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen the State’s participation in domestic and international markets.
He expressed confidence that the Tree Crop Revolution would significantly expand the State’s oil palm value chain, create opportunities for farmers and processors, and ultimately position Akwa Ibom as a net exporter of palm oil.
“There is a smart and better way of farming. That’s what today’s lecture has opened our eyes to,” the Governor said.
He noted that South Korea’s experience in technology-driven agriculture offered useful lessons for Akwa Ibom as the State sought to modernise farming, improve productivity and create stronger linkages between agriculture, technology, manufacturing and export.
Eno also drew attention to Akwa Ibom’s enormous blue economy potential, citing its approximately 129-kilometre coastline, numerous rivers and other water bodies and its strategic location along the Atlantic coast.
He said the multi-billion-naira maritime hub project at Oron Beach, provision of gunboats to security agencies and other interventions by the State Government were part of deliberate efforts to unlock the maritime economy.
According to him, the development of the State’s maritime resources would create jobs, strengthen security, facilitate commerce and attract local and international investments.
He expressed optimism that collaboration with South Korea, a country with considerable experience in maritime development, manufacturing and technology, could provide opportunities for knowledge sharing and investment in Akwa Ibom’s emerging maritime economy.
Delivering the special lecture, Ambassador Jeong Yo-An shared insights into South Korea’s transformation from a relatively poor nation devastated by the Korean War into one of the world’s leading industrial and technology-driven economies.
He said the South Korean experience, widely associated with the “Miracle on the Han River”, was built on deliberate investments in education, human capital, technology, industrialisation, infrastructure and innovation.
The Ambassador also traced the country’s development philosophy to the Saemaul Undong movement, which promoted diligence, self-help and cooperation as instruments of community and national development.
He stressed that the greatest resource of any nation was its people, urging Nigerians to draw lessons from South Korea’s experience and remain committed to building strong institutions capable of sustaining development.
Ambassador Yo-An said South Korea’s development journey offered valuable lessons to Nigeria, particularly in education, technology, manufacturing, infrastructure, innovation and export-oriented economic development.
The vice-chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Christopher Ekong, commended Governor Eno’s administration for its support for the institution and for prioritising human capital development in the State.
Ekong said the University was determined to break existing barriers and prepare its graduates for the demands of the modern labour market.
He expressed optimism that stronger institutional partnerships with South Korean universities and organisations would enable the University of Uyo to strengthen its academic programmes, improve research capacity and produce graduates who were employable, innovative and equipped with skills relevant to the global economy.
The vice-chancellor specifically appealed for deeper collaboration in Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation, including the establishment and upgrading of ICT centres and other digital infrastructure.
He also called for collaboration in the establishment of skills acquisition centres equipped with modern facilities and supported by the necessary technical expertise, as well as partnerships in smart agriculture.
Ekong thanked the South Korean Ambassador and the government of South Korea for their growing interest in Nigeria and Akwa Ibom, expressing hope that the visit would mark the beginning of stronger institutional relationships.
In his goodwill message, former deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State and former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Obong Nsima Ekere, described Professor Ekong as an “uncommon transformative vice-chancellor,” commending his leadership and the changes taking place at the University of Uyo.
Ekere said engagements such as the Ambassador’s visit were important in building enduring relationships between institutions and countries.
He urged the university to explore strategic linkages with South Korean institutions through the Korean Embassy, stressing that such partnerships could generate lasting benefits in education, technology, research and innovation.
Drawing a parallel between the development experiences of South Korea and Nigeria, Ekere said natural resources alone could not guarantee prosperity.
He identified human capital development, innovation, discipline, dedication and strong institutions as critical drivers of sustainable economic growth.
He challenged students and young people to draw inspiration from the lecture and become active participants in shaping Nigeria’s future.
He expressed optimism that the engagement would sow the seeds of partnerships capable of yielding benefits for generations to come.
Also speaking, the pro-chancellor and chairman of the 10th Governing Council of the University of Uyo, Dr. Muiz Banire, described the lecture as enriching and rewarding.
Banire urged the university management to explore opportunities for domesticating academic programmes and initiatives in Artificial Intelligence and other emerging fields.
He also emphasised the need to build strong institutions capable of outliving individuals and continuing to deliver on their mandates irrespective of changes in leadership.
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