BENIN CITY – As part of efforts to reposition the economy of Edo State, the state government has initiated a policy framework to re-vamp the rubber sub-sector of the state economy.
The draft policy titled, “Edo State Rubber Policy” as put together by the Edo State Rubber Development Strategy Committee which was inaugurated by the State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki in July 2021 came up with a draft which was reviewed in Benin City recently by stakeholders in the industry.
The stakeholders were made up of experts in the industry were drawn from the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), Rubber Estate of Nigeria Limited (RENL), National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN), Okomu Oil, Presco PLC, Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Edo State Oil Palm Programmes and the African Palm Oil Initiative (APOI).
Applauding the state for taking the lead to come up with such policy framework for rubber sub-sector in Nigeria, the Managing Director of the Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi who doubles as Secretary of the committee noted that it is on record that Edo State always take the lead on certain matters that advance the course of Nigeria.
He said that being the first state to come up with a policy document to develop the rubber industry in Nigeria, positions the state well as it was done in oil palm.
According to him, “Edo State is always the first state in doing certain things to promote Nigeria. It is not easy to be the first to delve into certain things and we are not scared to do so. What we have achieved in this workshop is to show that we (Edo State) can lead the way.
“We are not afraid as a state to actually lead the way. We want to see that this policy is not kept in our shelve. We will ensure that it is implemented. Most especially as we have all agreed that we need to drive rubber plantation, production, processing and even export in order to promote the economy.
“We must be able to assist the already existing businesses which are playing in this space,” he added.
In goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Peter Aikhuomobhogbe expressed happiness over the development and reaffirmed the hope that with the progress being made in the oil palm under the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), rubber has also attracted a similar attention, adding that there was a plan to increase the oil palm by 120 -hectares of land in the next 3-years.
According to him, the objectives of the workshop included, brainstorm on how to increase rubber production in the state; how Edo can benefit from the world rubber trade; the possibility of creating more jobs and the possibility of having more big players in the industry coming into the state.
“If we are doing 120-hectares for oil palm and now looking at 250-hectares in the next three or four years, we can do same for rubber. We are going to learn a lot from what ESOPP is already doing to oil palm.
“As we know, Edo is a home for rubber. Therefore, the strategy for us is to develop a plan among other things to identify all stakeholders in the value chain, not only to expand rubber, but to also see how to increase yield of what we already have.”
In their remarks, the Chairman of the Edo State Rubber Development Strategy Committee, Mr. Enotie Ogbebor; the President of National Rubber Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN), Mr. Peter Igbinosun and Dr. Timothy Esekhade, the Director in RRIN, noted that Nigeria was built and developed with monies from cash crops which have suffered total neglect as a result of the discovery of the crude oil in 1967 which has brought the country’s economy to an end in recent times.
He placed on record that the history of rubber development in Nigeria would not be complete without mentioning that it was first started in Sakponba in Edo State in 1903 and as such, the state was then the rubber hub of Nigeria.
Today, he said that countries like Malaysia, India and Thailand are together currently generating over 400-million employments and an annual income of 160-billion dollars.
Also, he noted that rubber is proven to have some of the largest value chain, with over 50-bye-products which, when given the proper attention, can transform the economy of Nigeria and employ millions of people.
Dr. Gabriel Osaheni Aghedo on Stakeholders Review Edo Rubber Industry.
How terrific!!! I’m really elated that the current our excellent His Excellency Godwin Enogheghase Obaseki’s administration and many Edos (Edolites) are very zealous regarding heavy investment in the Agroforestry and Agriculture industries!!!
Yes. Edo has always been regarded as Africa’s Rubber Headquarters even before this industry opened the Sakponba Rubber Hub in 1903!!! We’re really heading in the right direction!!! With unwavering faith, dogged determination and unyielding persistence, let’s go ahead and snatch the leading position from Malaysia, India and Thailand, and become the Number One Rubber Producing Place in the world!!! Yes, currently Edo is still the Number One Rubber Producer in Africa !!! Edo CAN and MUST from now onwards, become the Number One Rubber Producer in the world!!! Again, I humbly suggest that our mighty Edo State should join CIFOR (Center for International Forest Research), also establish annual CIFOR Games with Benin-City permanently hosting these games every; and with the games’ maiden edition commencing this year 2021 or early next year 2022 !!! The current CIFOR members are:- Indonesia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Zambia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Kenya, Peru, and Germany. Edo State should become the 10th member but the mightiest among the other nine members with regard to our wealthy Agroforestry: Rubber, Palm Oil, Timber, Cocoa, Coco nut, Palm Wine, Mango, Avocado Pears among many other Fruit Trees, variousMedicinal Trees, etc.
Edo has always been the headquarters of Palm Oil production. Somehow, Malaysia and Indonesia pushed us backwards to become the 5th producer in the world. Our great Edo State is still the Number One Palm Oil producer in the world!!! The much better news is that, judging from the current enthusiasm of the Obaseki administration and many Edos (Edolites) in this field, Edo State will surely become the Number One Palm Oil producer in the world again, as soon as possible!!! Our great Governor Obaseki initiated APOI (African Palm Oil Initiative ) with the following being the ten members:- Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo Brazaville, Congo Kinshasa, Gabon, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Edo State!!! Again, I humbly suggest that annual APOI Games should be established, with Benin-City permanently hosting these games every year, and with the maiden edition happening this year 2021 or early next year 2022 !!!
Let’s pay tribute to a very great son of Edo State whose burial was celebrated on November 4th to 6th, 2021!!! Among his many great achievements as a Medical Doctor, Writer , Teacher ( the Nigerrian Leader Shonekan was one of his students at the oldest secondary school in Nigeria: CMS Grammar School in Lagos!) and Historian, he was also a Farmer who even earned an Inter-Bsc degree from the University of Ibadan!!! He is none other than Dr. Ekhaguosa Aisien, my beloved brother-in-law!!!
May his soul Rest In Peace!!! Amen!!!
Arise all ye Edos (Edolites), let’s MEGA: Make Edo Great Again!!!
Win! Win! Win! Good luck, always!!!
Dr. Gabriel Osaheni Aghedo, a Holistic/Medical Doctor resident in Tokyo, Japan.