If there is one governor who is visionary, strategic, calm, unassuming, confident and desirous to bring about transformation starting from his state that is Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State. Without making noise over it, the governor is implementing a well-structured strategic development plan to lift Akwa Ibom State and its people from the cesspit of underdevelopment, poor infrastructure, low industrial development, poverty and unemployment. By his strides, the governor understands that these are among the critical issues plaguing Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general. It is, therefore, not surprising that Akwa Ibom State is now ranking among the leading states in Nigeria in terms of development strides.
It is appropriate, on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Governor Udom’s administration, to reflect on what he is doing, the high points of his stewardship. What has the governor done to lift the state and its people from poverty and underdevelopment? To what extent has the Governor worked to set Akwa Ibom apart? What landmark projects has he accomplished to leverage the state and its people?
There is no doubt that things will begin to change in the country if each governor could take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of his state and act accordingly with vision as Governor Udom has done. All over Nigeria, the problems are the same bordering on crass underdevelopment manifesting in lack of basic social amenities and filthy environment as if that is the acceptable norm.
But some states ought to be highflyers if the governor knows what to do. Akwa Ibom is one of such. Ironically, because of its geographical location at the tip of southern Nigeria, many people don’t know what is going on there. Governor Udom is carving a niche for himself, which explains why the story of Akwa Ibom is changing fast.
As a development planner, I have always looked forward to seeing one or two states that could distinguish themselves, by acting as our small Taiwan or Singapore in Nigeria that others could copy from as model economic masterpiece. Akwa Ibom is gearing in that direction if the tempo continues.
It was not until I visited Akwa Ibom last year as a member of a team on inspection tour of some federal projects that my perception of Akwa Ibom State changed. I saw a clean state with beautiful solid infrastructures. The state capital Uyo is captivating with serenity mimicking what you see abroad. The intra-city urban mass transit buses are impressive and second to none. The people I asked about the turnaround gave credit to Governor Udom Emmanuel and also the former governor Akpabio.
One sector that the governor is aggressively pursuing with the aim of leaving a mark is the industrial sector. Before now, little or nothing was known about Akwa Ibom outside being a major oil and gas producing state. But that story is changing fast as Governor Udom gears towards making Akwa Ibom an industrial hub in Nigeria.
Consequently, the Governor has on record over 18 industries he has attracted to Akwa Ibom State within the six years of his administration. Udom has unequivocally stated that his vision is to build an industrialised state aimed at taking Akwa Ibom away from being a civil service mono-economy and targeting job creation and poverty alleviation. His vision of industrialisation includes manpower training for skill acquisition and job creation for the teeming unemployed youths.
To ensure that his industrialisation vision is fully realised without a hitch, Governor Udom has focused his state budgets on this singular critical sector. Consequently, the 2019 budget of the state was tagged ‘Budget of Industrialisation for Poverty Alleviation,’ which is a continuation from that of the previous year. In the same vein, the 2020 budget was tagged ‘Budget of Industrialisation for Poverty Alleviation Phase 2,’ with the Governor emphasising that his completion agenda is predicated primarily on the rapid industrialisation of the state.
With Governor Udom’s resolve, huge investments began to pour into Akwa Ibom State, making it the second largest in Nigeria in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2018. The result is that different industrial concerns are springing up across Akwa Ibom State, thereby leveraging the people and alleviating poverty.
Among the host of industrial manufacturing concerns Governor Udom is championing in Akwa Ibom is the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company Limited. Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company is currently the largest disposable syringe factory in Africa. It produces three types of disposable syringes (2ml, 5ml and 10ml), which are made with state of the art technology from high quality medical grade raw materials. The company has a production capacity of 400 million syringes per annum.
There is also the digital electric Metering Solutions Manufacturing Services Limited. This company is the first of its kind in Nigeria. With 20,580sqm state-of-the-art meter manufacturing facility based in Akwa Ibom State, it is the largest in West Africa with a capacity to produce 3 million meters yearly on a three-shift pattern. The company is now the largest indigenous supplier of electric meters to Nigeria’s electricity sector. It is reportedly set to supply a minimum of 250,000 meters to cater for the domestic and international markets.
The Lions Plywood and Timber Factory located in Onna Local Government commissioned by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, is one of the industries set up by Governor Udom to make the state an industrial hub. The company has boosted the resources of the state with the economic importance of timber and plywood. The initiative has provided direct employment opportunities for over 150 young people as well as opened up windows for wealth creation and other value chain opportunities for the people of the area and Akwa Ibom State at large.
There is also the Ibom Agricon Rice Processing Mill in Ini Local Government Area commissioned by Governor Udom with a promise that it will give birth to several other factories in the area. The mill produces the Family Rice. Also, the SACAM Afro Processing Rice Mill produces the Rose Rice brands.
The state also boasts of the Greenwell Fertilizer Blending Company with a production capacity of 400,000 metric tons per annum. Located at Abak in the outskirts of Uyo the state capital, the company produces assorted kinds of fertilizer, which are in high demand in many states in the southern zone.
When Governor Udom Emmanuel set out to lubricate the once virgin well of agriculture in Akwa Ibom State with the establishment of Africa’s biggest coconut oil refinery, most people had no idea of coconut’s enormous potentials. But the Governor went ahead, displaying his propensity to plan towards an economy beyond crude oil, as if he knew that a certain emerging covid-19 pandemic would bring the world on its knees.
There is the Kings Flour Mill located in Mkpok-Okad Village in Onna Local Government Area. The factory has 4.892m2 of closed area with 47.406m2 of open area.
The Palm Kernel Processing Limited is located in Ukanafun LGA. The plant was commissioned by Governor Udom on February 5, 2019. The Governor dived into Ufani Palm Processing Factory following his realisation that palm oil is a lucrative but much neglected high revenue spinner.
The Dakkada Cottage Industries located in Itam Industrial Layout in Itu is providing shared business facilities to a number of manufacturing outfits. These include Plastic, Toothpick, Pencils and Toilet Tissue factories.
There is also the Ibom Industrial Park/Jetty at Ikot Abasi coastal area of the state with the Landing Jetty in Onna. Furthermore, Governor Udom delved into developing the Ibom Deep Seaport (IDSP), to take advantage of the coastal marine endowment of the state. The port is a key component of the state’s economic empowerment plans and is designed to provide solution to Nigeria’s perennial port congestion in Lagos.
The ongoing Power and Gas processing plant by Black Rhino is designed to address the perennial power shortage in the country starting from Akwa Ibom. The Ibom Air, which commenced operations in 2019, is Governor Udom’s strategy to boost the tourism industry in Akwa Ibom State. With already seven aircraft in its fleet and five destinations across Nigeria, Ibom Air is serving as a window showcasing the state’s tourism potentials to the world.
The litany of what Governor Udom is doing in the industrial sector is long and impressive. A silent industrial revolution is being championed by the governor in Akwa Ibom State. The success of these progressive initiatives is incomparable. I don’t know of any state in Nigeria that could boast of having such a catalogue of functional industries under one administration.
The impacts of Udom’s industrialisation effort on direct and indirect job creation are manifesting in the state. There is economic expansion in the state and this is impacting on the lives of the people through paid employment, improved income and better livelihood system. The number of those benefiting indirectly from the improved economy is immeasurable.
Governor Udom Emmanuel’s administration is indeed a success story. He has made Akwa Ibom an oasis of industrial success in Nigeria. No wonder he has been nicknamed ‘Mr. Industrialisation’ by his people. Udom’s industrial revolution is worth studying to serve as a model for other states.
Ironically, not many people know that Akwa Ibom is being industrialised at such a speed and that the people are enjoying the benefits of having an efficient, able and committed Governor Udom.
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