Akwa Ibom State government and the state’s Investment Corporation, AKICORP is set to revolutionize rice farming in Nigeria. From a joint business plan made available to newsmen recently in Uyo, the state capital, the South-South state hopes to become a major rice hub in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
This ambitious project which parades household names in investment, finance, agriculture, engineering, corporate governance and project management already has the blessing of the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. Emmanuel who continues to inspire hope by providing leadership with his new approaches to policy making and implementation, believes the people behind this new scheme have what it takes to drive it.
Those in the driving seat who are providing direction and the needed momentum are: Dr. Elijah Akpan, Chairman, AKICORP; Pastor Umo Eno, Executive Director, Agric Directorate, AKICORP; Prince (Dr.) Lucas Isioma Aziken, MD/CEO Rockworks Group; Mr. Ofonmbuk Nelson, Head of Department at AKICORP and the project co-coordinator, Rockworks, Mr. Umoh Ofonmbuk.
When this highly anticipated project eventually comes on stream, it will cultivate rice on over 10,000 hecters of land, employ more than 5000 youths on every farm, engage 5000 in anchor borrower scheme and utilize rice husk and other debris from the farm site for the production of fireproof building materials.
Other benefits include milling harvested rice paddies, improving on tomato greenhouse at the airport, using green energy for energy to power required storage facility for tomatoes and the introduction and commencement of flights by cargo planes for easy movement of the products.
Already, the Executive Chairman of AKICORP, Dr. Akpan has been commended for displaying high level professionalism and transparency and for supporting due process in the presentation and implementation of all projects. This, many believe, is a sign of greater things to come as everyone waits patiently for this new dawn in rice cultivation.