Akwa Ibom Launches Oil Palm Revival Drive Targeting 30,000 Jobs
Akwa Ibom Moves to Revive Agricultural Economy Through Tree Crop Initiative
Governor to Flag Off Statewide Agricultural Renaissance
AKWA Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, is set to officially launch the state’s Tree Crop Revolution initiative with the distribution of 620,000 improved seedlings to farmers across the 31 local government areas of the state.
The programme, scheduled to commence at the revived headquarters of the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), is being described by government officials as a major effort to reposition agriculture as a driver of economic growth, employment, and rural development.
The initiative focuses primarily on oil palm cultivation, a crop historically associated with the economic prosperity of the old Eastern Region before Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil revenues.
Government Targets Expansion of Oil Palm Production
According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, the programme will initially benefit 15,500 households, with 500 farmers selected from each local government area to receive 40 improved oil palm seedlings each.
He explained that beneficiaries emerged through a statewide data enumeration exercise conducted across the 329 wards in collaboration with local government authorities.
The commissioner disclosed that the state aims to cultivate 100,000 hectares of oil palm plantations within five years as part of broader efforts to rebuild the agricultural value chain and strengthen rural livelihoods.
Economic and Employment Expectations
The Commissioner for Information, Dr. Aniekan Umanah, stated that projections from the state government indicate that the initiative could create over 30,000 jobs across different segments of the agricultural economy.
According to him, the programme is expected to stimulate investments in agro-processing, value addition, mechanised farming, and export-oriented agricultural production.
Officials also believe the project will encourage productive land use while improving income opportunities for rural communities involved in farming and palm oil processing activities.
Restoring Historical Agricultural Identity
Beyond its economic goals, the Tree Crop Revolution is also being presented as an attempt to reconnect Akwa Ibom communities with their agricultural heritage.
Historically, oil palm production formed a major part of local economic life across the region, supporting trade, household incomes, and community enterprise long before the rise of petroleum as Nigeria’s dominant revenue source.
Government officials argue that years of dependence on oil revenues weakened the state’s agricultural foundations, making rural economies increasingly vulnerable.
Through the initiative, the administration says it intends to restore agriculture not only as a source of income but also as a sustainable cultural and economic identity for future generations.
