18/10/2020
Gov Udom Emmanuel: Boosting Food sufficiency in Akwa Ibom State
Governor Udom Emmanuel preached about food sufficiency in Akwa Ibom State. No one believed in this dream, not because he has failed them before. But because they didn't understand how possible he would make it happen. I know many at times, what creates doubt in their minds was the fact that the governor was preaching the gospel of food sufficiency at a time where prices of all essential commodities were high. Udom na Jesus wey dey perform miracle? Na so so question them bin dey ask.
Governor Udom Emmanuel understood the policies of achievement: he knew that to achieve this great dream, he must become a general. Not the general that sit at the comfort of his office to give orders, but the general that must use little resources and manpower at his disposal to win a war.
He understood the moment we are in: a moment where few people inflate prices of essential food products in a bid to make unimaginable profits. So he recognized the fact that to succeed in his food sufficiency's dream is like a war, a war he can never afford to lose. To have a flawless victory, he moved into the battle field himself to lead the war. So for the sake of time, I wouldn't want to touch all areas of his food sufficiency programme, but will only digest the intriguing one which has become the one of the moment. I'm talking about the tomato sufficiency programme if His Excellency in Akwa Ibom State.
The Akwa Ibom Entrepreneurial Employment Scheme, AKEES, under the Bureau of Technical Matters overtime has been piloting the governor's visions. One of these visions is the tomato sufficiency for all in the state, and other Nigerian states.
AKEES under the supervision of the Senior Special Assistant, Technical Matters and Due Process to the governor, Elder Ufot Ebong, is planting tomatoes in Ifiayong Usuk, Uruan LGA, just beside Le Meridien Hotels and Gulf Resort.
The 7hectare tomatoes farm which is a demo of the governor's vision has become the greatest shock of the year to people in the state. Some people believed things like tomato does not grow well in Akwa Ibom's soil, but what they've witnes
