Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has handed over the management of the Ibom Model Farm to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) as part of efforts to strengthen food security and promote agro-tourism in the state.
Governor Eno announced the decision during an inspection of the facility, explaining that the government is providing the necessary infrastructure to enable the farm to commence operations, while the Akwa Ibom Ministry of Agriculture will provide supervisory oversight.
“We began this project by providing the farmhouse. The farm is now going to be managed by Akwa Ibom State University, and the Ministry of Agriculture will perform the supervisory role,” the governor said.
He described the facility as more than a food production centre, saying it is designed to combine agriculture with tourism and recreation.
“You can see the ambience of the farm. This is what we expected. People should be able to come here and relax. This is agro-tourism. Apart from food, there are things that will be happening here,” he said.
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Governor Eno disclosed that the Ibom Model Farm, inspired by the Songhai Farm model, will serve as a template for similar projects planned for the three senatorial districts of the state. He added that additional model farms are proposed for the Ini Local Government Area and the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area to serve the Ikot Ekpene and Eket senatorial districts, respectively.
In his address, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, said the project is designed to promote food security, human capacity development and agro-tourism.
“The objective beyond food security has been to develop human capacity and also serve as a tool for agro-tourism. It is going to be everything His Excellency expected it to be,” she said.
The Vice Chancellor of the school, Otoabasi Akpan, who also spoke at the event, assured Governor Eno that the institution has the expertise to manage the facility effectively and make it a model for modern agricultural practice.
Akpan said the project aligns with the agricultural revolution component of the ARISE Agenda and will contribute significantly to achieving sustainable food security in the state.
