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Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy, has expressed the Federal Government’s willingness to bolster the efforts of a women’s group, the Mansion of Blessedness, which commissioned a multi-purpose agriculture factory in Asiak Obufa Ayanganse village in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The minister stated this when she graced the commissioning ceremony of the Mother Elizabeth Multipurpose Factory, said to be worth over N85 million, which commenced on Friday, October 4, 2024, and was concluded on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
The minister, represented by Mrs Angeleen Nkwocha of Child Department of the ministry, said her ministry was very happy that a group of women was very committed to pulling their resources together to achieve such laudable initiative.
She said the massive investment will boost food availability in the country.
She said, “We highly commend the efforts of this group. We will do all we can to support this commendable initiative. We’re overwhelmed, knowing that you sourced these funds from amongst your group. We will collaborate to ensure sustainability.
“We’ll seek areas of interventions. We know that this factory will create jobs, which will assist to lift many from unemployment.”
Head of the group, known as Rector of the Mansion of Blessedness, Mrs Glory Oho, disclosed that the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, headed by Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, and the Cross River Basin Development Authority have expressed readiness to lend their support to the multipurpose factory.
Mrs Oho said they had tasked each member to contribute N10,000 from where they raised the initial N40 million to start the factory.
She added, “We’ve expended well over N85 million to purchase these palm oil processing machines. We have purchased other heavy machines for pure water, garri and nuts cracking and processing machines, including boilers and extractors.
“We have started production of liquid soaps, organic palm oil, pure water and very soon, we’ll also start the garri production.
“We’ve sorted out issues with the host community. We’re looking to engage 30 personnel in the first instance. We’ll give them half of the employment slots.
“We aim to boost security, lift our people out of poverty and provide opportunities for skills acquisitions.”
Oho disclosed that for the raw materials, they have three hectares of palm fruit plantation, established in 1960 by the woman which the factory is named after, Mother Elizabeth Esu Obu.
She disclosed that they have already received orders from big-time buyers to deliver 50 drums of palm oil.
She stated that their group was complying with the Federal Government’s calls on all to return to farming and boost food security.
Chairman of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria, Rev Nyam Bissong, represented by Mr Donatus Owan, said the factory will touch lives for generations, disclosing that it would boost and transform the palm oil milling business beyond the state.
He said his association is ready to give basic trainings in palm oil production, nurturing palm trees for better yields, as well as branding for traceability.
