Akwa Ibom State plans to establish Songhai Model Oil Palm factory

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Éno, has announced his administration’s commitment to establishing a Songhai Model Oil Palm Mill in the Ibekwe Akpanyah area of Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area in the state.

Governor Éno made this declaration during a special church service held to celebrate the 75th birthday of Apostle John Okoriko and the 49th anniversary of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church at their headquarters in Ibekwe Akpanyah, Mkpat Enin LGA, on Sunday.

The governor emphasized that the decision to locate the oil palm mill in the Ibekwe Akpanyah community was to complement the existing oil palm plantation owned by the Solid Rock Church and to provide various processing services for local oil palm farmers in the region.

“It’s a full mill. The team that went with me to the Songhai Integrated Farm saw that mill. I wanted to do a model, so now that I have seen a private farm here, we’ll put a model here so that you and the women in this area can keep producing and supporting the government,” Governor Éno stated.

He further highlighted that the government’s plan is aligned with its ARISE Agenda, aiming to support local oil palm farmers by providing mills for palm fruit processing and other palm produce. He pledged to establish the very first of such local mills in the region and assured that the Commissioner for Agriculture and experts would assess the farm to identify additional ways the government can support the project.

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The governor also mentioned the provision of new Tenera seeds, which have a shorter growth period of two years, and expressed the government’s commitment to sending these seeds to the local farmers as a part of their support.

In his congratulatory message to Apostle Okoriko on his 75th birthday, Governor Éno expressed gratitude for the cleric’s unwavering support during the election process and urged the clergy and all Akwa Ibom residents to work collectively to ensure the unity and prosperity of the state.

Apostle Okoriko, in response, expressed his gratitude for the presence of the governor, state government officials, and numerous distinguished guests at the celebration of his 75th birthday and the 49th anniversary of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church. He considered it a great blessing to witness the goodness that has come to the state and the emergence of Governor Éno.

During a sermon titled “Honour and Blessing,” delivered by the Guest Speaker, Archbishop Emmanuel Udofia of the Methodist Church Nigeria, it was emphasized that honour is reciprocated with blessings, whether by God or man. The blessings in Apostle Okoriko’s life were seen as a reward for his life of honour to God and God’s servants.