Oil, gas entrepreneur driving agricultural transformation in A’Ibom

Entrepreneur Michael Udofia is broadening his enterprise. He resides in the agrarian community of Ikot Antia Obio Uyai, located in the Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. This region is within the oil-rich Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He is expanding his business. He has ventured into oil palm agriculture. This move aims to grow his business and boost the fortunes of his community.

Udofia connected with the National Initiatives for Sustainable & Climate Smart Oil Palm (NISCOPS) initiative. He accessed effective training and quality hybrid seedlings. He planted oil palms on 33 hectares. Now, his farm has become a learning hub. It inspires nearby farmers to adopt modern, sustainable practices for a more prosperous future.

For two decades, Michael Udofia has built a thriving career in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas sector. With eight gas stations under his management, the 59-year-old businessman saw strategic growth in his business. Despite the profitability of the oil business, Michael wanted more. He had a lingering ambition to do more for his community in Akwa Ibom State.

Ten years into his oil and gas business, Michael began exploring ways to diversify his portfolio. His interest turned to agriculture. He focused on oil palm farming. This crop is deeply rooted in Nigeria’s landscape. However, it is often underutilized due to outdated farming practices.

“I saw how much potential our land had. We have the right soil, but we were not doing enough with it. I wanted to help farmers around me get more out of what they already had.”

His goal was to create a demonstration farm. It would serve as a learning ground for smallholder farmers. They would learn modern oil palm farming techniques. But translating that vision into reality was not easy.

For 15 years, he struggled to realise this dream. The lack of quality seedlings hindered his progress. He also lacked knowledge about best practices that would optimise yields and help his community.

“I kept searching for high-yielding hybrid seeds, but didn’t know where to source them from. The most commonly planted variety among farmers was the wild grove, which unfortunately yields low quantities of fruits,” says Michael. “Additionally, managing a nursery and post-nursery operations was a significant challenge for me.”

The turning point in his life occurred when NISCOPS arrived in Nigeria. The initiative established oil palm nurseries in 60 communities. These communities are located across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, and Kogi. This includes Michael’s community, Ikot Antia Obio Uyai. The goal was to offer quality hybrid seedlings to farmers.

Community facilitators trained by Solidaridad were equipped to guarantee the effective operation and management of these nurseries. They were prepared to transfer knowledge to smallholder oil palm farmers in their communities.

For farmers with established oil palm farms, the community facilitators offered guidance on best management practices and climate-smart agriculture.

Community facilitators helped Michael gain access to high-quality oil palm seedlings. They also provided him with practical training on how to manage his farm sustainably. Over the past four years, he has planted 33 hectares of high-quality oil palm seedlings in his community. This signifies a significant step up from the wild groves that once dotted the area.

“Wild groves take more than five years to bear fruit. In contrast, these hybrids started yielding within three years of planting,” Michael explains.

Today, Michael harvests fresh fruit bunches from his farm every two weeks. His consistent yields have sparked interest among other farmers. They now see first-hand the benefits of adopting improved agricultural practices. They also see the advantages of using the right planting material. His farm has become a peer-learning hub where others come to learn, just as he had once hoped.

Kenechukwu Onukwube is the programme manager of oil palm at Solidaridad in Nigeria. He says Michael’s journey demonstrates what is achievable with the right support.

“We combine access to quality inputs with hands-on training. We also use community-led knowledge sharing. Through these efforts, we equip farmers with the tools they need. This helps them build climate-resilient and commercially workable farms,” he noted.

*Culled from Solidaridad Network