By Peregba Jerry
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Éno, has declared that his administration would establish a Songhai Model Oil Palm Mill in Ibekwe Akpanyah in Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of the state.
Éno announced this while speaking at a special church service to mark the 75th birthday celebration of Apostle John Okoriko and the 49th anniversary of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church, held at the church Headquarters, Ibekwe Akpanyah, Mkpat Enin LGA on Sunday.
Eno explained that the location of the mill at Ibekwe Akpanyah community is to complement the already existing oil palm plantation owned by the Solid Rock Church and to provide various levels of processing services for other oil palm farmers in the area.
“It’s a full mill. The team that went with me to the Songhai Integrated Farm saw that mill. I wanted to do a model, so now that I have seen a private farm here, we’ll put a model here so that you and the women in this area, can keep producing and supporting the government,” he said.
He said Apostle Okoriko has exemplified true godliness and hard work worthy of emulation and assured of the government’s support to help boost the farm’s productivity as well as provide a value chain for the farm produce.
He said, “As part of our ARISE Agenda, we have a plan to boost agriculture by providing mills to local oil palm farmers to process their palm fruits and other palm produce. For this kind of farm you have here, I have directed that the very first of such local mills be established here.
“I will ask the Commissioner for Agriculture to come with experts to check his farm to find out what other support the government can give. We have new seeds called Tenera seeds, that grow in two years. We are going to send some seeds to you and support you because you have done very well. These are the simple things we can partner.”
While congratulating Okoriko on his 75th birthday anniversary, the governor thanked him for standing by him through the process of his electioneering, urging the clergy and all Akwa Ibom people to work hard to ensure the unity and prosperity of the state so that his supporters would not be disappointed.
Responding, Okoriko expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life and keeping the church, saying that he counted it a great blessing to have the governor with the state government officials and lots of dignified people show up to celebrate his 75th birthday and 49th anniversary of the Solid Rock Kingdom Church.
The cleric described the emergence of Eno as a blessing to the state and thanked God for keeping him alive to witness the goodness that has come to the state.
Delivering a sermon on the topic, “Honour and Blessing” the Guest Speaker, Archbishop Emmanuel Udofia of the Methodist Church Nigeria, said that honour has always been reciprocated with blessings whether by God or man, affirming that the blessings of God on Apostle Okoriko’s life is undoubtedly a reward of his life of honour to God and God’s servants.
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