Akwa Ibom State Government has restated its focus on inclusive economic growth with the commissioning of a new oil palm processing mill designed to boost women led enterprises in Esit Eket Local Government Area.
Governor Umo Eno, speaking through Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, said the facility aligns with his administration’s development framework, which places women at the centre of household income growth and community stability. He described the mill as a practical intervention that would improve productivity, expand income opportunities and stimulate local economic activity.
The mill, located at Ikpa Town Village, is part of a broader programme that has delivered five oil palm processing facilities across Esit Eket. Government officials said the Ikpa Town site was completed first and deployed as a pilot to accelerate impact while other facilities come on stream.
The Governor noted that sustained development requires active civic participation and encouraged women in the area to register for electoral processes so they can influence leadership choices and public policy. He reiterated that his administration would continue to roll out programmes that strengthen women’s access to skills, finance and productive assets.
Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area, Uduak Ikot, said the project would have a direct impact on household incomes and small scale processors, adding that the council welcomed further collaboration with the state government on grassroots development.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Inibehe Etukudo, said the facility was designed to help women transition from subsistence activity to organised agro processing, improve product quality and achieve financial independence.
Delivery Adviser for the Nigeria for Women Project, Ini Adiakpan, said the initiative is funded by the Akwa Ibom State Government with technical and financial support from the World Bank and supervised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare. She added that beneficiaries had received training in financial literacy and sustainable business practices.
The Village Head of Ikpa Town Village, Eniang Umoh, described the project as a significant step toward local economic transformation and thanked the state government for bringing investment directly to the community.
Political leaders, women groups and stakeholders who attended the commissioning praised the project, saying it reflects a shift toward development initiatives that deliver measurable economic benefits at the community level.
