Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has restated his administration’s commitment to building a profitable agricultural economy that can boost earnings for the State. He shared this vision while speaking with Government House Correspondents after inspecting ongoing renovation work at the headquarters of the Akwa Ibom State Agricultural Development Programme, AKADEP, in Uyo.
Governor Eno explained that the government has now created an Agricultural Business Unit specifically for serious agribusiness investments that will generate real revenue. He stressed that agriculture should be seen as a major economic sector with clear opportunities for profit. According to him, the State must separate agricultural business investment from agricultural social welfare if it intends to grow its internally generated revenue and reduce dependence on oil funds.
He stated that the Ministry of Agriculture will continue its role in social investment through free or subsidized distribution of seedlings and farm inputs. However, he noted that activities such as tree-crop planting, equipment leasing, and model farming fall strictly under business investment because they can be run profitably.
Agriculture is big business, and Governor Eno emphasized that the government will no longer fund ventures simply because they fall under government responsibility, especially when such ventures can be managed effectively by private operators. He said the State must focus on making agriculture a strong income source.
He added that separating welfare from business in agriculture will help drive meaningful earnings for the State. The goal, he explained, is to grow revenue and secure the economy in case of any shortfall from oil allocations coming from Abuja. He said the State must work toward becoming economically viable and financially self-reliant by revitalizing and sustaining all its business investments.
Governor Eno said the administration is committed to turning State-owned assets into income-yielding ventures managed professionally for long-term benefit. To support this vision, he announced the appointment of Pastor Godwin Ukwat as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agric Business. Before this role, Pastor Ukwat served as the Executive Director of Agric Investment.
Accompanying the Governor during the inspection were the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah; the Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor, Mr. Aniefiok Johnson; and other members of the State Executive Council.
