A’Ibom Coconut Scheme: Oku Ibom Ibibio, Council Of Chiefs Back Gov Emmanuel, Call For Massive Participation
Akwa Ibom State Government efforts to diversify the state’s economy through massive investment in coconut planting and processing has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the Ifim Ibom Ibibio and the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs.
As a demonstration of the tacit support of the traditional rulers, the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, participated in the newly inaugurated Akwa Ibom Coconut Day held at the across the State on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
Ntenyin Solomon Etuk accompanied by the paramount ruler of Onna Local Government Area, HRM Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang and other chiefs, performed a symbolic planting of the coconut seedlings at the premises of the Akwa Ibom State Council of Chiefs Chambers, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, Saturday.
The premier royal father in the state, commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his courageous strives to bring about more development in the state through investment in the global coconut revolution, which according to him, has become as lucrative as the crude oil business.
Related: Governor Emmanuel Institutes Akwa Ibom Coconut Day
“We join His Excellency, Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to plant coconut to boost our agricultural programmes in Akwa Ibom State. We plant for subsistence usage; we also plant for commercial purposes.
“I therefore urge all Akwa Ibomites – traditional rulers, sons and daughters and residents alike including uniformed men and women to plant coconut.
“We are happy and grateful to God for giving us a visionary leader like Governor Udom Emmanuel,” he stated.
The official flag-off the scheme by state government on Saturday, over 300,000 seedlings of coconuts were planted across the state.
Gov Emmanuel at Ekeya, Okobo Local Government Area, where one of the coconut plantations is domiciled, declared September 18 as annual Coconut Day in Akwa Ibom State.
The government aims to cultivate an average of two million coconut seedlings to serve as raw materials for the recently completed St. Gabriel’s Coconut Oil Factory at Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of the state.
