The ECOWAS-Aviana Aviv West Africa Int’l Expo 2022 took place at the University of Ibadan Conference Center from 8 to 9 June. The international B2B exhibition is hosted annually in Nigeria with global participation from companies, farmers, institutions, associations, banks/insurance brokers, individual professionals, and other private sector stakeholders in agriculture. The conference and exhibition enabled business and personal networking, brand building, new market generation, trade and commerce, and market research.
In his opening remark, the Expo Chairman, Dr Isaac Bright explained that they organized the conference to share ideas and learn more ways to improve agricultural productivity. “We know that the price of planting materials is increasing daily, so we need ways to increase productivity,” he said.
President of Feed Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), Dr Raymond Obiajulu, appreciated all the participating farmers for attending the educative conference. He said that farmers’ patience is paying off, and the agricultural sustainability possible today is a result of their competence and consistency. “Let us learn more today to improve our farming system,” he added.
The Baale of Farmers in Oyo State, the President of African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N), and Presidents of other organizations also gave their goodwill messages.
Nigerian Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, represented by Cooperative Department Deputy Director Omolara Folasade Oguntuyi, gave the keynote address. Oguntuyi spoke about the importance of agriculture to Nigeria’s economy, especially in providing food and nutrition and as a source of livelihood. She also talked about the government’s support for farmers: “We are improving the agricultural value chain to unlock value for farmers.”
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, encouraged farmers to participate in politics. He explained that when farmers are involved, they can work with the government to come up with policies that favor farmers. The Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Adeniyi Olabode Adebisi, represented by Olufunke Adediran, advised farmers to go beyond traditional agriculture and launch into agribusiness because agriculture is now more of a business. “Let us join hands to promote agriculture and agribusiness,” she said.
Representing the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness and Head of Mechanization and Agribusiness at IITA, Dr Adebowale Akande, spoke about the mission of the Oyo State government to turn the state into an agribusiness hub. Highlighting the ongoing projects, Akande mentioned the Start Them Early Project (STEP), a collaboration between the state and IITA that engages secondary school students in agriculture and agribusiness. He also mentioned the Oyo State Youth in Agribusiness program and the transformation of farm settlements in the state into Industrial Agribusiness Hubs. “Farmers should partner with agribusiness programs in Oyo State so that we will have a rich agribusiness hub,” he added.
Concluding the event, awards were presented to companies that have done well in the poultry industry. Chi-Limited, headed by Chief Sunday Eze Obiora, won the prize of best poultry in 2022. Dr Akande won the award for Best Agribusiness Ambassador. It was also announced that by 2023, the award presentation would extend to other countries in Africa.
The IITA stand highlighted the Institute’s innovations, activities, projects with other agricultural organizations, and final products from cassava and other mandate crops such as tit bits, chin-chin, chips, and cake.
Contributed by Favour Eleta
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