A Professor of Science Communication, Herbert Batta, has strongly advised the Akwa Ibom State Government against abandoning the long-delayed Ibom Science Park.
Instead of turning its back on the project, Professor Batta urged the government to repurpose the facility into a cutting-edge research hub dedicated to oil and gas, tourism, and solid minerals, unlocking new economic pathways for the state.
Professor Batta made this advocacy while appearing on the XL Super Breakfast Show. His remarks were prompted by Governor Umo Eno’s recent declarations regarding the 20-year-old project.
While the governor had previously mentioned plans to renovate and complete the site, his latest stance signals a departure from the original vision, prompting the university don to outline why the infrastructure remains invaluable to the state’s future.
The Ibom Science Park was originally conceived during the administration of former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, as a cornerstone strategy to transition Akwa Ibom from an oil-dependent state into a thriving, knowledge-driven economy.
Modeled after Silicon Valley in the United States, the park’s strategic objectives were to foster technology commercialization.
It was designed to create a collaborative ecosystem where researchers, software developers, startups, universities, and investors could seamlessly work together to transform innovative ideas into viable businesses.
However, a philosophical divide has emerged between the academic and the state executive. Governor Umo Eno has maintained that the traditional concept of a physical science park is obsolete, arguing that science parks are now “mobile” and seamlessly integrated into smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
Washing his hands of the original blueprint, the governor has called for interested investors to step forward, offering to hand over the physical site freely for alternative development purposes.
Rejecting the governor’s stance, Professor Batta insisted that labeling the physical science park concept as outdated is fundamentally faulty, noting that the global tech sector still relies heavily on science and technology parks to break new developmental grounds.
Rather than giving the strategic asset away, Batta emphasized that the state should leverage the facility’s intended infrastructure—which spans startup incubation centers, research laboratories, ICT training facilities, and innovation hubs—to drive targeted research in sectors that directly impact Akwa Ibom’s economy.
