Akwa Ibom state governor, Dr. Udom Emmanuel has assured agricultural entrepreneurs of adequate funding of their small holdings to make them to be self reliant.
The governor said that agric sector development would also create more jobs for the teaming populace.
The governor, who spoke at the First Ekid Economic and Enterprise Summit (FEEES) organized by Ekid People Progressive League at Eket, said that the problem of this generation is not ideas but funding.
Udom, who spoke through the state Commissioner for Economic Development, Dr. Emmanuel Ating Owuoduokit, noted that innovative ideas will attract funding either from the government or the private sector in State.
He challenged the people to look beyond the ordinary to uncover numerous opportunities that abound in the agricultural sector, even as the government had created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
According to him, any small holders group that exceled in their agricultural entrepreneurship will be recognized as a Dakkada ambassador and assisted financially.
He said that the First Ekid Economic and Enterprise Summit (FEEES) is one such fora to generate ideas and attract corporate funding in the agricultural business.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Matthew Ekaette, stressed the need to think beyond oil and to diversify our economy to agriculture which had sustained the economy of different countries for decades.
Dr. Ekaette noted, the theme of the summit “Industrialization: Existing and Emerging Opportunities in Agric Business in Akwa Ibom State” is apt and should be given centerstage if we must achieve economic growth of our state.
He regretted that agriculture had been abandoned for decades in preference for oil revenue and sued for a paradigm shift.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of Ekid People Progressive League, Rev. Daniel Akwatang disclosed the purpose of the summit was to draw attention of the people to the vast opportunities in agric business.
The league intends to use the summit to draw attention and enlighten the people on the vast opportunities in agric business.
“we aim to draw attention of our people to the vast opportunities in agric business as a bold step to enlighten our people to pursue agricultural industrialization and support the food sufficiency focus of this administration.” his words
Papers were presented at the one day summit by experts in agric business amongst them Prof. Edet Udo, Chairman Akwa Ibom State Food Sufficiency Committee and Prof. Funsho Sonaiya, Co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Projects for Asia, America and Africa. [myad]
