December 20, (THEWILL) — The Eternal Life Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd has launched Tom Brown mixed cereal powder in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, attracting strong federal and state backing for community-based agro-processing and value addition.
The product was unveiled at a ceremony attended by representatives of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture, agribusiness stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, women and youth groups, and the media.
Speaking at the event, the South-South Coordinator of the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI), Dr Howard Usen, described the project as a model for inclusive agribusiness, noting that cooperatives must move beyond primary production to processing and branding to remain competitive.
He said NAADI would continue to support initiatives that promote value addition, improve food quality and link cooperatives to markets and financing opportunities across the region.
A representative of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Akwaowo Obop, described the initiative as critical to agricultural transformation, stressing that production without effective marketing could limit impact.
“It is not what you produce that makes the difference, but what you sell”, he said, pledging government partnership to strengthen marketing and funding for the cooperative.
He also announced that a key Central Bank of Nigeria committee overseeing intervention programmes had been inaugurated, opening opportunities for the cooperative to access financial support.
According to him, the project aligns with state and national policies aimed at reducing the sale of raw produce and encouraging agro-processing to increase farmers’ income.
President of Eternal Life Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd, Arc. Dr. Nnamdie Akpan Ebong, described the launch as a milestone in the cooperative’s efforts to improve nutrition, create jobs and enhance the livelihoods of local farmers.
He said the cereal was produced by the cooperative’s Food Production and Processing Unit in collaboration with NAADI and the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN).
Dr Ebong noted that the cooperative deliberately chose value addition to ensure better returns for its members and long-term sustainability.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, the Director of Agricultural Information Services, Mr Akwaowo Obop, said the ministry would continue to promote agribusiness initiatives that strengthen food security and rural economies.
Traditional rulers and community representatives commended the cooperative for locating the processing facility within the community, noting that it would reduce post-harvest losses and create employment opportunities for youths and women.
