By Emmanuel Thomas l Wednesday, July 22, 2026
BENIN CITY — In a bid to accelerate regional economic growth and tackle food inflation across the South-South region, the Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to turning key agricultural recommendations into actionable growth strategies.
Speaking following the conclusion of the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit 2026, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. (Dr.) Jerry Uwangue, expressed deep appreciation to the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for providing the platform to participate in the strategic regional gathering.
Hon. Uwangue specifically commended the NDDC for organising the high-level summit in strategic collaboration with the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He described the collaborative initiative as a timely and decisive intervention designed to unlock the vast, unexploited agricultural potential of the oil-producing states and attract major domestic and foreign direct investments into the sector.
Moving from Dialogue to Implementation
Highlighting the outcome of the discussions, the Commissioner described the summit as immensely impactful. However, he stressed that the true metric of success lies beyond policy dialogues, requiring swift execution across local governments and communities.
”The resolutions and recommendations reached during this landmark summit must not remain on paper,” Hon. Uwangue stated. “They must be translated into concrete, visible actions across all nine Niger Delta states if we are to achieve meaningful, measurable, and lasting socio-economic outcomes for our people.”
He emphasized that Edo State—blessed with arable land, favorable climatic conditions, and a strong agrarian workforce—stands positioned to gain immensely from the partnerships, investment channels, and modern farming frameworks established at the event.
”Edo State stands to benefit significantly from the wide array of opportunities created through this collaboration,” Uwangue added. “Ultimately, the success of this summit will be measured by how effectively we implement these resolutions to drive increased agricultural productivity, enhance food security, generate youth employment, and build a resilient economic foundation across the entire Niger Delta.”
Background to the Story: The Niger Delta Agricultural Imperative
For decades, the economy of the Niger Delta region—comprising Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states—has been heavily dominated by crude oil production. However, environmental challenges, economic volatility, and growing unemployment have highlighted the urgent need for economic diversification.
Regional Diversification: The NDDC, under its target mandate to move “Beyond Oil,” has renewed its focus on agro-industrialization, recognizing agriculture as the most viable path toward sustainable economic resilience.
Federal Support: By partnering with the Office of the Vice President, the 2026 Summit signals strong federal alignment with regional initiatives aimed at bolstering national food self-sufficiency and reducing food import dependency.
Edo State’s Role: Under the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, Edo State has prioritized agricultural infrastructure, smallholder farmer support, and commercial farm venture partnerships to position the state as a food basket for the nation.
As state governments across the Niger Delta begin integrating the summit’s framework into their local development plans, stakeholders remain optimistic that synchronized regional action will unlock new agribusiness corridors, improve rural livelihoods, and transform the region from oil-dependent to agricultural-led prosperity.
