Oku Ibom Ibibio Endorses Governor Umo Eno’s Agricultural Revolution, Plants Hybrid Tenera Palm Seedlings
Oku Ibom Ibibio Endorses Governor Umo Eno’s Agricultural Revolution
Oku Ibom Ibibio and President General of the Akwa Ibom State Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin (Dr.) Solomon Daniel Etuk, CFR, has expressed his full support for Governor Umo Eno’s ongoing agricultural revolution under the ARISE Agenda initiative.
The royal endorsement was evident when Ntenyin Etuk warmly received the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural and Food Security Team at his palace in Ikot Ukobo, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, on Monday, October 27, 2025. The delegation included representatives from the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN).
Leading the team, Mrs. Bernadette John Ekanem, State Chairperson of NPPAN, briefed the monarch on the government’s strategic plan to distribute hybrid Tenera palm seedlings and other vital agricultural inputs to farmers across the state. The initiative aims to promote sustainable food production and strengthen food security in Akwa Ibom.
According to Mrs. Ekanem, the new Tenera hybrid seedlings offer remarkable advantages over the traditional Dura species that have long dominated local farms. These hybrids are known for their superior yield, higher oil extraction rate, and greater economic potential, both for local consumption and export.
“We are here to inform you, our revered royal father, about Governor Umo Eno’s initiative on planting new palm seedlings, particularly the hybrid Tenera variety,” she explained. “The goal is to reach oil palm farmers at the grassroots and ensure effective distribution as directed by the state government.”
Also present at the event were Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, Dr. Edem Udongho — both members of the Akwa Ibom Committee on Agriculture and Food Security — and Mr. Emmanuel Ekanem of AKADEP, who joined in witnessing the symbolic planting of the seedlings by the royal father.
In his address, Ntenyin Etuk lauded the state government for its forward-looking agricultural policies. He recalled that oil palm cultivation was once a major economic activity for the people of Akwa Ibom and urged residents to return to that heritage.
“Our forefathers depended on oil palm production as their main source of income. It’s disheartening that many of our people today rely solely on government instead of pursuing generational wealth through ventures like oil palm farming,” he stated.
The monarch encouraged Akwa Ibom people to embrace Governor Eno’s agricultural vision, emphasizing that farming — particularly oil palm cultivation — remains key to driving economic growth, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable development.
The high point of the visit was the symbolic planting of the hybrid Tenera palm seedlings by His Eminence, Oku Ibom Ibibio, marking a new phase in Akwa Ibom’s agricultural transformation journey.
