BY VICTOR UFOT
The government of Akwa Ibom State in collaboration with Challen Consult, a Ghanian based company, last week ended a two day intensive training/seminar for purchasing officers recruited as part of the on going Palm Oil development project in the State.
The project which is supervised by the Special Assistant to the governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr. Ime Uwah, in collaboration with the Foreign Direct Investment Committee had participants carefully drawn from registered Dakkada Ambassadors from 16 Local Government Area of the state for the first phase of the training.
On the first day of the training, the faclitator, Engineer Charles Manu an expert in the field of Palm Oil processing and his team took time to explain to the participant the theoretical aspects of oil palm processing and production.
He explained that Palm Oil business is a serious business that can sustain the state economically and help generate revenue for the state. Engineer Manu said that palm tree is an economic tree that can be used as a raw material to produce more than 130 vital products.
The participants were further shown the various types of palm trees, fruits and their peculiar differences by the aid of a projector.
The facilitator indicated that Akwa Ibom state is richly blessed with the natural endowment and commended the state Governor Deacon Udom Emmanuel for keying into the lucrative venture and promised that Akwa Ibomites will start reaping positively from the project soon.
He charged the participants to consider themselves lucky and enjoined them to be committed to the project in other to reap the benefits that comes with the vision.
The training which was held at the Conference hall of the State Secretariat Annex along Udo Udoma avenue, saw the participants engaging the facilitator with questions that helped them to understand the project.
Just like the Cocoa maintenance scheme initiated by the state government to educate and introduce modern day techniques in managing and maintaining cocoa plantations for farmers, the facilitator Engineer Manu, showed the participants ways which oil palm can be maintained, fresh fruit bunch harvested and modern ways of processing to get the best quality that is perfect for exportation. He informed the farmers that not all Palm Oil produced in region meets with the quality needed for exportation because of the fatty acid content which can be reduced simply by adopting standardized methods.
Speaking shortly after the training to AKWA IBOM ONLINE, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr. Ime Uwah thanked the facilitator and described the process as rewarding and enlightening. He said that the Udom Emmanuel led administration was not playing politics with employment and wealth creation but was committed to bettering the standard of living of the citizens.
He added that the Dakkada philosophy of the state government was about empowerment and job creation and expressed believe that the Deacon Udom Emmanuel’s campaign promise of job creation is beginning to manifest. He noted that citizens of the state will benefit through the numerous job opportunities that have been created in the various agricultural projects in the state.
The Governor’s aide said that in a short while the state will regain its place as a leader in the production of Palm Oil in Nigeria.
At the end of the first day, the participants expressed gratitude to the state governor for the opportunity granted them to contribute their own quota to develop the state and pledged to do everything within their abilities to ensure that the project is a success.
On the second and final day of the training which was the field work, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Marketing and Brand Management, Mr. Ime Uwah with the lead facilitator Engineer Charles Manu led the participants to a Palm Oil processing Mill in Ibesit Ekoi, Oruk Anam Local Government for the practical part of the training.
The facilitator, Engineer Manu explained most of the equipment seen at the processing mill and stated their uses to the purchasing officers. He later showed them best way to process palm oil and arrive at the best possible result.
Engineer Manu exposed the participants to modern methods of harvesting and processing Palm fruits. He explained the crane and net method used to harvest palm fruits which he said was faster, easier and most importantly safer. He said that the current method used in harvesting palm fruits in the region was rather outdated, time consuming and dangerous which according to him will not aid in the production of Palm Oil in commercial quantity.
Beneficiaries of the first batch of the programme were shown the techniques on how to identify the various types of Palm fruits with ease.
He also explained the concept of “Oil lost” to the participants and practically tutored them on how to avoid losing oil during the process of extracting Palm Oil from the fruits.
The facilitator added that the current practice of exposing Palm fruits to sunlight for days was harmful and bad as it dries up the oil. He equally showed the farmers how best to store the palm fruits immediately after harvesting.
Mr. Manu added that the state government will bring in modernized equipment that will make Palm Oil processing less tedious and bring out the best quality of Palm Oil that will meet international standard.
Some of the participants who spoke to AKWA IBOM ONLINE at the end of the whole exercise said that the entire training was educating and worthwhile. They confessed that to an extent they have been processing Palm Oil the wrong way and said that with the training they are ready to improve on their knowledge for utmost performance.
The second phase of the training according to the Governor’s aide is underway.
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