The Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence for his landmark contributions to oil palm cultivation and agribusiness development in the State.
The award was presented on Tuesday at the maiden edition of the BusinessDay International Oil Palm Summit, held at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
While presenting the award, the National President of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Barr. Joe Onyiuke, commended Governor Otu for driving major advancements that directly benefit smallholder farmers in Cross River State.
Onyiuke revealed that the Cross River State Government has made the single largest investment in the sub-sector by procuring 3.5 million improved Tenera species of sprouted oil palm nuts from the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) for distribution to smallholder farmers. This, he said, represents the highest volume of seeds ever purchased by any State Government in Nigeria.
The OPGAN President urged other State executives to emulate the laudable strides of the Prince Bassey Otu-led administration, noting that government buy-in and targeted support are critical if Nigeria is to effectively scale up its agribusiness sector. He further described Cross River as the country's prime destination for oil palm investment, citing extensive research into its ideal soil texture and highly conducive climate.
In his address, Governor Bassey Otu applauded BusinessDay and OPGAN for organising the summit, stating that the event aligns perfectly with Cross River’s strategic vision to transform agriculture into the backbone of its economy.
“Agriculture is not just about food; it is about jobs, industrialisation, and shared prosperity,” the Governor stated, adding that palm oil is being positioned as the flagship of the State's industrial future.
Governor Otu, who was represented at the event by his Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, reiterated his administration's commitment to making Cross River the epicentre of Nigeria’s oil palm renaissance through agro-processing, expanded exports, and aggressive job creation, noting that the State currently has 110,000 hectares of land dedicated to oil palm cultivation, spanning key hubs such as Akamkpa, Biase, and Boki.
Highlighting broader achievements in the State's agri-economy, the Commissioner detailed several key interventions, including the procurement of 108 mini-tractors tailored specifically for Cross River's terrain, along with over 50 power tillers and rice threshers to boost mechanisation. The administration has also rehabilitated 25 critical farm access roads to ease the movement of produce from rural hubs to urban markets, and developed a 500-hectare cassava seed farm.
Furthermore, the Commissioner highlighted strategic partnerships aimed at capacity building, noting that 500 local farmers have been trained in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to advance modern yam seed technologies. He added that the state has established six new cocoa estates, each spanning 2,000 hectares, alongside a new 5,000-hectare coffee estate in Obanliku to dramatically scale up cash crop production.
The summit, themed “From Palm Oil to Industrial Leadership,” drew a high-profile audience of diplomats, policymakers, and private sector leaders. Notable attendees included the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Mahdavi Raja; the 2nd Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong; the Executive Director of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), Dr. Isona Gold; the Director-General of NACCIMA, Mr. Sola Obadimu; the Commercial Attaché of the Russian Trade Commission, Mr. Peter Arseniev; and the Divisional Head of Agribusiness and Non-Oil Exports at FCMB, Mr. Kudzai Gumunyu, among several others.
By Uchino Amatey
