The Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State, Helen Eno Obareki, has called for strategic international partnerships to drive agricultural transformation in the state.
Obareki made the call on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the opening and guided tour of the Netherlands Pavilion at Agrofood Nigeria 2026 in Lagos, where she invited Dutch investors to consider long-term investments in Akwa Ibom State, particularly in dairy development and smart greenhouse farming.
“We therefore invite the Dutch business community to look beyond the pavilion and towards the lush, peaceful, and fertile lands of Akwa Ibom. Whether it is in developing our dairy value chain or establishing smart greenhouse clusters, we are ready to be your primary partner in Nigeria,” she said.
Obareki described the Netherlands as a global leader in agro-industrial innovation, particularly in greenhouse technology and high-yield dairy systems, noting that its success model offers valuable lessons for Akwa Ibom’s ongoing agricultural transformation.
She emphasized that Akwa Ibom’s agricultural drive, anchored on the ARISE Agenda of the present administration, is focused on sustainability, mechanization, and rural development. She noted that the state is drawing inspiration from the Dutch philosophy of “doing more with less” to boost productivity.
Highlighting the role of social infrastructure in agricultural success, the Coordinator who stressed that technological advancement must go hand-in-hand with community development, outlined interventions carried out by the Golden Initiative for All (GIFA), which has installed solar-powered water systems across 13 Local Government Areas to support domestic use and irrigation.
She listed key agricultural projects in the state to include a 50-hectare integrated agro-economic hub, the Ibom Model Farm in Nsit Ubium, currently under development, a facility she described as presenting opportunities for the adoption of Dutch greenhouse technologies to guarantee year-round food production, in the state.
Other initiatives, she said, include the establishment of an Agricultural Equipment Leasing Company to enhance mechanisation, the Tree Crop Revolution and the development of the Blue Economy in Oron, all aimed at creating a diversified and investor-friendly agricultural landscape.
Reiterating the state’s readiness for foreign investment, Obareki described Akwa Ibom as a peaceful and secure destination, nationally recognized as a “Safe Haven,” with the stability required for international business.
She added that the state boasts of modern infrastructure, including an extensive road network, Ibom Air for seamless travel, and the ARISE Palm Resort, an eco-friendly leisure and tourism destination nearing completion.
In a keynote address, the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane spoke of the great potential for Nigeria’s Agric industry in export, emphasizing the need to build BULOG-style national reserves, invest heavily in irrigation, practice market liberalization over protectionism and ensure long-term policy continuity, if Nigeria is to stem the tide of the current economic shock.
Goodwill messages were received at the 11th edition of the Agrofood Nigeria exhibition, from the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria Bengt van Loosdrecht, Diplomats, Investors, businessmen, as well as other stakeholders across the agriculture and food value chain.
Obareki was accompanied to the exhibition where participants explored innovations, partnerships, and investment opportunities, by the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Offiong Offor, the General Manager of the Ibom Equipment Leasing Company Limited Engr. Ifiok Udo Ekott, and the Director of Agribusiness in the Governor’s office Mr. Ofonmbuk Nelson.
