The Cross River State Government has restated its readiness to encourage and support the management of Wilmar Limited and other well-meaning investors in the State to expand their businesses for the growth of the State’s economy.
The State Deputy Governor Prof. Ivara Esu stated this at the 2017 Wilmar Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony to indigenes of the landlord communities in the State held at Calaro Oil Palm Estate, Akamkpa Local Government Area.
Esu further stated that, this was necessary in view of government’s belief that the growth of the economy largely depends on the private sector, which should be encouraged.
He commended Wilmar Limited for the tremendous transformation of the oil palm estate in Biase and Akamkpa Local Government Areas, urging them to continue to maintain and sustain the existing cordial relationship with the landlord communities for mutual co-existence.
The Deputy Governor lauded the management and the PZ-Wilmar Scholarship Board for the presentation of the awards to 40 higher education deserving student of the landlord communities.
He appealed to the scholarship Board and PZ-Wilmar Limited to ensure that the awardees are always selected on merit for the scholarship which should be reasonable and worthwhile, advising the awardees to make judicious use of the money given to them and strive to be studious to maintain the scholarship.
The Chairman PZ-Wilmar Scholarship Board, Prof. Arikpo Bassey Arikpo of the University of Calabar, intimated that the scheme was inaugurated in 2014 to enhance manpower capacity building in the State.
He disclosed that since inception, the board has awarded one hundred and fifteen (115) scholarships to indigenes of the landlord communities. He pointed out that PZ-Wilmar management has resolved among other forms of its Cooperate Social Responsibilities, to maintain the scholarship scheme with a view to improving upon its management.
The Managing Director of the company, represented by the General Manager, Plantations Limited, Mr. Ahmed Mustapha Goh, explained that the exercise was carried out transparently without any bias to applicants and advised the students to study hard to enable them excel in their academics.
Mr. Ahmed expressed hope that the modest effort by PZ-Wilmar to its landlord communities of Calaro Oil Palm Estates in Biase and Akamkpa will add to the development of the needed manpower in the State and Nigeria in general.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar