Akwa Ibom State has reinforced its commitment to women-driven economic growth with the commissioning of a modern palm fruit processing mill in Oku, Abak Local Government Area. The facility, inaugurated by Governor Umo Eno under the Nigeria for Women Project, represents a deliberate effort to move women from small-scale activity into organised, high-value agro-processing while boosting local palm oil output.
The processing mill is designed to cater to women across the 11 wards of Abak Local Government Area and has already delivered measurable gains in productivity. With the introduction of mechanised processing, daily output has risen sharply from a single drum of palm oil to about eight drums, improving efficiency, consistency and market readiness. The expansion has not only reduced processing time but has also improved oil quality, positioning producers to compete more effectively within the wider palm oil market.
Speaking at the event, the governor’s Delivery Adviser on the Nigeria for Women Project, Ini Adiakpan, described the initiative as a comprehensive empowerment programme rather than a stand-alone infrastructure project. She noted that participating women are equipped with skills in financial management, leadership and cooperative governance, alongside training in water, sanitation and hygiene practices and awareness around gender-based violence. Adiakpan praised the state government for driving the programme locally and acknowledged the World Bank for providing the financial backing that enabled its execution.
Providing insight into the broader impact of the project, the State Coordinator of the Nigeria for Women Project, Ofonime Etuknwa, explained that the Federal Government-supported initiative was structured to help women transition from informal trading into commercial-scale palm oil production. She said the project has significantly improved the economic fortunes of beneficiaries, revealing that many women who previously saved as little as ₦100 weekly now save between ₦3,000 and ₦5,000. This shift, she added, has strengthened their financial independence and improved access to capital for business growth.
Etuknwa further disclosed that the palm processing facility is jointly owned by about 200 women operating as a cooperative. Through this collective ownership model, members are able to share resources, reduce operating costs and benefit from economies of scale. With improved output and market access, the cooperative is expected to generate meaningful dividends for its members by the end of the year, reinforcing the long-term sustainability of the enterprise.
At the heart of the initiative is the palm fruit processing mill itself, a mechanised facility that converts freshly harvested palm fruit bunches into crude palm oil through a series of integrated operations. These include sterilisation, fruit separation, digestion, pressing and clarification, processes that significantly increase yield while minimising waste. By replacing labour-intensive traditional methods, the mill enhances productivity and ensures better quality control.
Beyond its economic value, the mill stands as a catalyst for wider community development as it creates employment opportunities along the palm oil value chain, strengthens cooperative structures and positions women as key contributors to local industrial growth. Through the Nigeria for Women Project, the Oku palm fruit processing mill illustrates how targeted investment, skills development and inclusive ownership can translate into sustainable economic empowerment for women and lasting benefits for their communities.
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