By Udeme Hosea

The Akwa Ibom State Government has said that the Ibom Model Farm, its 50-hectare agro-tourism edifice situated in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, when completed, will boost food security, boost tourism and train youths to own and manage farms.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Affiong Offor, stated this on Wednesday, September 24, 2026, at the Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, during the Ministerial Briefing by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Dr Offor said the Ibom Model Farm which sits on 50 hectares in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area is ongoing with dormitories, hotels, poultry, crop, vegetable components and agro-tourism attractions, in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU.

According to her, the facility will serve three outstanding purposes which include training, food sufficiency and tourism, while also serving as a major boost to the tourism sector of the state.

“It is evolving. Once the project is completed, the beautiful edifice will stand as it will meet training, food sufficiency and tourism. People will be trained to work and set up farms for themselves. The greenhouse will excite young people to see that crops can be grown in an environment. It will encourage young people to be involved in agriculture. Visitors will also be attracted to see how agriculture and tourism work together,” she said.

She lauded Governor Umo Eno for his lofty initiatives in the agricultural sector, enumerating key investments by the state government in the sector since 2023 to include the approval of funding for the procurement of over 620,000 improved oil palm seedlings for distribution to registered farmers across the 31 Local Government Areas under the Tree Crop Revolution, the disbursement of grants, farm implements and seedlings to farmers, the rollout of ARISE empowerment support for farmers, traders and MSMEs, and the ongoing development of Ibom Model Farms and LGA farms across the state.

The Commissioner further disclosed that the state government has revived its extension services to provide hands on support to farmers.

She said government has adopted Climate Smart Agriculture to help farmers produce more, earn more and ensure food is available, stable and affordable, while improved varieties of crops that can withstand harsh climate conditions are being introduced.

She further added that, the Akwa Ibom State University is now handling the Ibom Model Farm project for sustainability, stressing that the state government is also working on the reactivation of the greenhouse farm along Airport Road, Uyo, through the replacement of expired protective nylons and other facilities in collaboration with the university, all of which will add to the state’s agro-tourism offerings.

On the Dakkada Global Oil Palms in Esit Eket, Dr Offor said maintenance is ongoing, security is intact, internal roads have been fixed and plans are underway to plant new seedlings to rejuvenate the plantation.

Earlier in his tone-setting remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the Ministerial Briefing was organized to provide a platform for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to give account of their stewardship and to present verifiable information on the policies, projects and programmes of the Umo Eno administration in line with the ARISE Agenda, including the administration’s drive to boost tourism through innovative projects like the Ibom Model Farm.