First Bank Expo to Strengthen Nigeria’s Agricultural Exports
First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. says its fifth Agric and Export Expo will focus on strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural export value chain and expand the country’s non-oil export earnings.
The bank said in a statement on Sunday that the two-day expo would bring together policymakers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, exporters, investors and development partners.
It said the event, with the theme, “From Farm to Global Markets: Building Nigeria’s Export Value Chain”, would hold at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.
According to FirstBank, discussions at the expo will centre on emerging market opportunities, financing solutions, technology-driven innovations and policy measures capable of improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in global agricultural trade.
It said the expo had evolved into a platform for promoting collaboration and innovation in the agriculture and export sectors, with emphasis on economic diversification, food security, value creation and sustainable foreign exchange earnings.
The bank said the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, would deliver the keynote address at the event. It added that governors of Niger, Edo, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states would also attend as special guests.
Other speakers expected at the expo include Olasunkanmi Owoyemi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sunbeth Global Concepts Ltd.; Taiwo Ayoade, Deputy Managing Director of Agro Traders Ltd. and Plantation Industries Ltd.; Sunil Kumar Chauhan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Fertiliser Ltd.; and Ayodele Abioye, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BUA Foods Plc.
The statement quoted Mr Olusegun Alebiosu, the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, as saying agriculture and non-oil exports remained critical to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Alebiosu said expanding non-oil exports would help diversify the country’s revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and strengthen economic resilience.
He said the expo would provide a platform for stakeholders to develop solutions to unlock value across the agricultural and export value chains.
FirstBank said the initiative formed part of its broader efforts to support businesses, facilitate market access and promote sustainable economic development.
