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.
The award was presented, Tuesday, at the maiden edition of the BusinessDay International Oil Palm Summit, held at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ACCI.
In his address, Governor Bassey Otu applauded BusinessDay and OPGAN for organising the summit, stating that the event aligns with the state government’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 the state 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.
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.
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 hovernment in the country.
The OPGAN president urged other governors to emulate the laudable strides of the Otu-led administration, noting that government’s buy-in and targeted support are critical if the country 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.
The summit, themed “From Palm Oil to Industrial Leadership,” drew a high-profile audience of diplomats, policymakers, and private sector leaders.
