Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is gradually moving towards the realisation of his industrialisation agenda with the inauguration of yet another factory for the production of tissue paper.
Located at Dakadda Industrial Estate, in Afaha Itam, Itu local government area, the tissue paper factory is at the last phase of construction and will start production next year.
“This dried bamboo tissue paper factory is the first of its kind in Africa and will give you the best quality you can ever think of tissue paper.
“By next year, we will declare total war on Education and all the chalks, pens and materials needed in school will be produced here.
” We will no longer import them,” the governor said.
He also congratulated the people of Itu LGA as “the Dakadda Industrial Estate will also house two more factories and this place will continue to employ the people of the state.
The factory on completion will produce 5 tons of tissue paper daily and about 2000 tons annually.
The raw materials used for production of the tissue pulp are to be sourced locally from the area according to industry sources.
It was gathered that “the manpower for the new production line is almost all indigenous as indigenes who were raised undertook knowledge transfer from the Chinese expatriate that worked here with this team.”
“This facility is fully government owned, but will be administered by a private business model for maximum profitability,” it was further learnt.
Also known as “Ibom soft rolls” it will hit the market stand in February 2021, after obtaining requisite certifications.
The pioneering technology applied in this production line is both human and environment friendly.
In a goodwill message, the Member Representing Itu/Ibiono in the House of Representatives, Henry Archibong, thanked the Governor for selecting Itu as the Local Government to host the tissue factory.
The Member representing Itu LGA in the state assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Trade and Investment , Kufreabasi Edidem said the LGA is “quite lucky for being part of the industrialisation drive of Governor Udom Emmanuel by playing host to industries initiated by this administration “.
He added that 25 direct jobs and over 2000 indirect jobs have been created for youths of Itu LGA through the tissue factory.
The lawmaker said the Local Government will take responsibility to provide the enabling environment for the industry to thrive.
The Paramount Ruler of Itu LGA, Edidem Edet Akpainyang, said he his happy to witness the Commissioning of the project as the lost Paper Mill in Itu is a wound that has been healed by Governor Udom Emmanuel through the tissue factory.
He congratulated the Governor on the Ibom Deep Seaport saying it would be another means to employ the people of the state.
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