RismadarVoice Reporters
September 29, 2026
The Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom State has begun efforts to revive the area’s raffia industry as part of measures to create jobs, support local businesses and increase internally generated revenue.
Council Chairman, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom, disclosed this during a visit by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Nsibiet John.
Nkom said the council had acquired two hectares of land for the cultivation of raffia palms to provide raw materials for the planned revival of the International Raffia Enterprise in Ikot Ekpene.
“The raffia business in Ikot Ekpene was extinct, but we are reviving it. We have acquired a two-hectare piece of land to plant raffia palm to feed our International Raffia Enterprise, which we are reviving, so we won’t be going outside for raw materials,” he said.
The chairman said the initiative would help restore an industry historically associated with Ikot Ekpene while reducing dependence on external sources for raw materials.
He also disclosed that the council was investing in youth development through skills acquisition, vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes.
According to Nkom, indigenes are being sponsored to the Dakada Skills Acquisition Centre for vocational training and financial support to establish businesses.
He said the programmes were intended to prepare young people for emerging opportunities, including those expected from the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport and other investments in Akwa Ibom State.
“We are making this administration entrepreneurial-based to ensure our youths get skilled for self-reliance and the future,” he said.
Nkom further disclosed that the council had commenced construction of the Raffia City Mall, an International Market and a truck park at Ibiakpan to stimulate commercial activities, create employment and increase revenue.
He said the International Market was expected to provide a major commercial hub for residents and traders and reduce dependence on markets outside the state for certain goods and services.
“The International Market will stop the rush to Aba and Onitsha. It is going to be a stop-over for so many people to buy and sell. It will bring revenue to the local government, employment and economic advancement to the state,” Nkom said.
On infrastructure, the chairman said the council had repaired its tractor and deployed it for rural road grading, with more than 20 rural roads graded and 10 major roads rehabilitated.
He said the interventions were aimed at improving access to communities and facilitating the movement of agricultural produce to markets.
Nkom also said the council had introduced education interventions, including payment of school fees, bursaries and sponsorship for indigenes undertaking professional courses in tertiary institutions.
He added that the council had domesticated the Akwa Ibom State Government’s ARISE development agenda at the grassroots level.
The NUJ delegation inspected some of the projects during the visit as part of its tour of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State to assess and document grassroots development initiatives.
