SHORT ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES EMOIMEE BY ARCHBISHOP SENATOR HELEN ESUENE ON THE OCCASION OF THE FLAG-OFF CEREMONY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF OIL PALM SEEDLINGS IN ONNA ON 22ND MAY, 2024
Today is a historic day in ONNA Local Government and indeed Akwa Ibom State as it marks the first public demonstration of the benefits that have and will accrue to Akwa Ibom State under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as it pertains to Host Community Development. The PIA came into existence in 2021 with the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) charged with oversight functions.
In addition to the Act, the Regulation, the Constitution and the Handbook were put together to guide the many host community trusts in the country. EMOIMEE is one of such trusts. EMOIMEE Trust comprises the seven Local Government Areas of Eastern Obolo, Mbo, ONNA, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat-Enin, Eket and Esit Eket. EMOIMEE Trust Board was officially inaugurated in July last year. The Management Committee and the Advisory Committee of the Trust came into existence later. I am pleased to say that 1,172 tertiary scholarships have been released to the seven Local Government Areas worth N400,000 each. Also 142 Secondary Scholarships of N200,000 each and over 400 bursary of N200,000 for students in tertiary institutions have been approved for our children.
Many life-enhancing projects in the area of agriculture, skills training, transportation, education, health, small and medium scale businesses, direct empowerment and social amenities are in the process of execution.
Today’s event is to publicly showcase one of such projects by EMOIMEE which is the distribution of the first tranch of 20,000 oil palm seedlings out of 52,000 seedlings approved. I thank the people of ONNA led by their Paramount Ruler His Majesty Edidem Raymond Inyang and the Local Government Chairman Hon. Iniabasi Ekanem for getting fully involved in the distribution of these seedlings. It is our hope that appropriate oversight functions will be carried out by them to make sure that the planting and appropriate care is given to ensure growth and a good yield. The Trust will also come from time to time to see their progress.
Akwa Ibom State has been blessed with dynamic Governors who have made the citizens proud in many respects. We are morally bound to reciprocate by giving our individual and collective support to their endeavour. All hands must therefore be on deck to give strength to the ARISE Programme of our State Government. The EMOIMEE Trust has played her role in supplying palm oil seedlings to this community; it is now your task to plant and weed for them to grow and yield a bountiful harvest. It is my hope and desire that this collaboration will continue in the future for the benefit of this community and Akwa Ibom State in general.
I appreciate the presence of the elders and dignitaries for coming to witness this occasion. I hope you will continue to partner with EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust in their future programmes.
Thank you and God bless you.
