By Segun Adeyanju
Mr. Felix PaulMary Ekol, a young millionaire farmer in his 30s, says life struggles forced him into agriculture, a decision that has grown into a flourishing enterprise in Edor, Ikom LGA of Cross River State.
Ekol manages four expansive farms containing over 72,000 cocoa trees and 50,000 plantain stands, with harvests recorded almost weekly.
Despite holding a master’s degree in Accounting, he returned to farming after years of financial hardship, beginning from his university days.
“Life became very hard when I entered the university in 2010. I had to assist my parents, who were peasant farmers, and that pushed me into agriculture,” he said.
After 15 years of consistent work, planting, experimenting, and often sleeping on the farm, he now produces about 1,000 tonnes of cocoa per harvest and four truckloads of plantain monthly. His community calls him “Minister of Agriculture, Local.”
Ekol attributes his success to applying accounting principles to what he terms “Biological Assets Farming,” a model where short-term crops fund long-term economic crops like cocoa and oil palm.
Through his Tymdua Foundation and TymdauR Global Limited, he supports young farmers with training and seedlings, while expanding into oil palm, pear, ogbono, and vegetables.
He appealed to the government to fix the poor road access that hampers produce evacuation during the rainy season.
Ekol’s rise from a struggling student to a leading young farmer continues to inspire youths seeking opportunities beyond white-collar jobs.
