In a move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil palm industry, Akwa Ibom-based farmer Mr. Aniefiok Ekanem announced the launch of one million oil palm seedlings, set for November 2024. This initiative aims to restore Nigeria’s once-dominant role in global palm oil production and prepare local farmers for the upcoming planting season.
Ekanem, speaking on Wednesday in Uyo, expressed concern over Nigeria’s diminished presence in the oil palm sector since the 1970s. “This launch is a step towards reclaiming the glory days when Nigeria led the world in palm oil production,” he stated, recalling the country’s prominence in the industry during its early independence years.
The farmer criticized Nigeria’s shift to a petro-dollar economy, which he believes diverted attention from sustainable agriculture. Conducting newsmen around his nursery farm in Ikot Ekpene, Ekanem emphasized that distributing the seedlings across Akwa Ibom would spark an agricultural transformation, driving wealth and self-sufficiency.
“We’re launching one million oil palm seedlings on November 2 in Akwa Ibom. Farmers across the state will be encouraged to adopt oil palm farming as a pathway to economic independence,” he declared. “Instead of monetary handouts, politicians should consider empowering the youth with oil palm seedlings, enabling them to cultivate a sustainable future.”
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The nursery farms are strategically located in Ikot Ekpene, Essien Udim, Ikono, and Nsit Ubium local government areas, making seedlings accessible to farmers statewide. Ekanem expressed confidence that this “oil palm revolution” will not only elevate Akwa Ibom but also Nigeria, as a whole, by diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on imports from countries like Malaysia.
Ekanem added passionately, “Nigeria was once the largest oil palm producer and even shared seedlings with Malaysia. Now, we import from them. This generation will not allow Nigeria to lag behind.”
Ekanem’s initiative aligns with Akwa Ibom’s ARISE Agenda, prioritizing agriculture under the leadership of Governor Pastor Umo Eno. “The state is committed to transforming agriculture, and this oil palm revolution will capture global attention,” Ekanem affirmed, calling on Nigerians to join this movement and drive the nation towards agricultural sustainability and economic resilience.
