Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Barrister O
nofiok Luke, has urged Akwa Ibom youths to embrace agricultural entrepreneurship, noting that it was the pathway to wealth creation.
He gave the charge, Friday in Ikot Abasi when he visited an integrated agro farm owned by a young agricultural entrepreneur, Solomon Solomon, a beneficiary of Mr. Speaker’s mentoring initiative. Barr. Luke who was delighted at the progress so far made by the young farmer said “With what I’m seeing here today, there is no way one can be hungry. There is no where there would be hunger in the land. The quality of coconut harvested here in this farm, with the cassava, pineapple, and different crops being cultivated here. Today was for us to come and see what you have been doing. It is good, and I am praying God to prosper the works of your hands”.
The Speaker in his speech observed that with the quality and number of coconut harvested so far at the farm, he was certain that Solomon and other members of the federal constituency who own coconut plantation will soon have a ready buyer that would be willing to order for supply of coconut for refining at the refinery which is under construction in the area.
He called on the youths of the federal constituency to rise, defend and protect the coconut plantation sited in in their domain by the state government.
The Speaker who is the leader of the mentoring team, assured of his continuous support for the growth of small and medium enterprises in the state, saying his mentoring initiative was aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship amongst the young people.
He said his decision to mentor the young one’s in entrepreneurship was in line with the Dakkada philosophy of the Governor Udom Emmanuel led administration.
Barr Luke who personally participated in a planting exercise at the farm, further donated a N500,000 support on behalf of the state government to the farm.
Responding, one of the Mentees, Mr. Solomon, thanked the Speaker for the initiative and support, and briefed him on the progress recorded so far at the farm. He also presented some harvested produce from the farm to the delight of the visiting team.
The mentee later on conducted the Speaker round the farm.
