Follow Us on Google
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Akwa state governor pastor Umo Eno has directed Abak local government area in the state to begin exportation of palm oil because of its capacity to produce 1,600 litres of 8 drums of palm oil daily in the area.
Speaking during the commissioning of 11 palm fruit processing mills established across 11 wards in the local government , Eno advised women working in the mills to commence the process of exporting the products to neighboring states and outside Nigeria.
The mills which is the initiative of Nigeria for Women Projects (NFWP), in the local government area across 11 wards making up Abak local government area has the capacity of producing 8 drums of 200 litres each totalling 1,600 litres against one drum they struggled to produce in the past before the intervention of the state government repositioning palm production to improve the state internally generated revenue.
Eno who was impressed by the production quota promised to provide women with 10 tonnes of palm fruit needed for the next oil palm processing and ordered for employment of security officials to secure the Mill.
Represented by his Deputy, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, the Governor who was visibly impressed at the output recorded by women at the Mill, promised to ensure availability of clients who would patronize them directly from the Mill, to ease the stress of moving the oil to the market by themselves.
He also assured the women of provision of lighting at the Mill and promised to give them access road.
” I am satisfied with this project . Although Akwa Ibom State joined the World Bank-Assisted project very late, we can boast of being one of the States with the best of outcomes from it”.
In her remarks, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Helen Obareki expressed delight at the project describing it as a dream comes true.
” This project was one of the dreams of my late mother, Pst. Patience Umo Eno who had wished to see women engaging in trade clusters to get assistance , empowerment and support thereby alleviating poverty at the grassroots.
” I thank the Governor for being gender-friendly in words and in action. I warn the women on careful utilization of this Mill”.
Earlier, the Delivery Advisor to Governor Umo Eno on NFWP, Dr. Ini Adiakpan lauded the Initiative and explained it’s umbrella benefits for women.
According to her, the project had as part of its features, trainings on financial discipline, leadership, Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and more.
” I thank the Governor for being at the forefront of ensuring the project’s is utilized and the World Bank for financing it.
Commenting on the advantages of the project, the State NFWP Coordinator, Barr. Ofonime Etuknwa explained that the project which is guaranteed by the Federal Government, was built to help women produce palm oil in large quantity .
” The project does not only gather women together in petty trading but has helped to increase their weekly savings from a paltry N100 to between N3,000-5,000 weekly. This has boosted their economic base and placed them on an improved financial pedestal”
