The Ikot Ekpene Village Agricultural Initiative and Charity Foundation (IKVAI) has officially launched a five-day free agricultural training and empowerment program for farmers in Ikot Ekpene Village, Akwa Ibom State.
The program, which commenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Ikot Ekpene Village Town Hall, is designed to boost agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, and empower local farmers through knowledge, resources, and sustainable practices.
IKVAI is a community-driven empowerment project with a focus on Ikot Ekpene Village and the wider Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. Its mission is to alleviate poverty through agriculture by offering intensive training, farm inputs such as fertilizers and seedlings, financial grants, and manpower support to expand farms and increase yields.
Speaking at the event, the National Co-ordinator of IKVAI, Obong (Arc) Kingsley Effiong Umoren, emphasized that the initiative seeks to create opportunities in agriculture by targeting individuals who own farmland and smartphones. Through training, digital engagement, and empowerment, IKVAI aims to promote youth participation in agriculture, enhance food security, and create sustainable income streams.
โThis program will enable farmers to undergo intensive trainings, equipping them with modern farming practices that will contribute significantly to poverty eradication in Ikot Ekpene Village and selected parts of Ikot Ekpene L.G.A. We are also taking agricultural awareness to the grassroots to strengthen community development,โ Umoren stated.
As part of its broader commitment to education and empowerment, IKVAI also announced the award of 30 full scholarships annually to students in tertiary institutions. The awards will cover five students each in Medicine, Agriculture, Pharmacy, and Architecture, and ten students in Engineering. The scholarships, to be known as the Hon. Udo Udo Okure and Mrs. Umo Essien Okure Memorial Awards, will be given in honour of the founderโs late parents. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the some churches and other development partners.
In her remarks, Mrs. Ukpono Ibanga commended Obong (Engr.) Christopher Umoton Abatekpe Okure for his over 15-year commitment to agricultural development, which began in Manchester and culminated in the establishment of IKVAI. She highlighted the foundationโs focus on pepper cultivation and distribution, urging farmers to fully participate in the program to harness its benefits and contribute to the growth of the local economy.
Participants at the training, including Elder Sylvester Eyenkpo and Madam Alice Okon Umoren, expressed deep appreciation to the organizers for the impactful lessons received. They assured their readiness to adopt the new farming methods on their respective farms.
Through this initiative, IKVAI is set to transform agriculture in Ikot Ekpene by combining training, empowerment, and education to drive poverty alleviation and sustainable community development.