The organisers of the Third Agribusiness Roundtable Conference in Nigeria have announced that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, will be honoured with an Award of Honour for prioritising agriculture in his ARISE initiative.
In a phone conversation regarding the level of preparedness for the event, scheduled to commence with participants’ arrival on Sunday, October 27, 2024, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee (CPC), Mr Howard Usen, disclosed, “The host governor will be given an award, even as the ARISE initiative will receive a boost at the end of the event.”
Usen elaborated, saying, “At this moment in time, I will say that, in partnership with the ARISE agenda of our amiable governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the international conference is like a one-stop shop to showcase the state and the developmental efforts in agriculture and elite businesses. That’s why this conference is honouring the governor.”
“This is an opportunity for us to showcase what we have. The conference theme, as I said, is unlocking agribusiness opportunities for economic sustainability. We have topics on finance, export-orientated businesses, and climate change,” he continued.
“We are having the country director of Solidaridad speak on smart agriculture. We have the Indonesian ambassador sharing insights on the Indonesian perspective in agriculture—what they did differently when they were perhaps in a situation similar to Nigeria’s current state. We also have several other high-profile speakers,” he noted.
“Professor Edoeh will be speaking on CNG, and many other influential figures are coming to participate, making this a major event for people to take advantage of.”
“We have invited farmers, banks, institutions, captains of industry, and individuals across sectors. Everyone will have something to benefit from the event,” Usen added.
The CPC chairman also anticipates rewarding and insightful discussions. The keynote address will be delivered by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, with several other prominent personalities present to contribute to developing programmes that will elevate agriculture in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.
Mr Usen emphasised the timeliness of Governor Umo Eno’s focus on agriculture, remarking, “It couldn’t have been more apt than this time that the governor is putting agriculture at the pivot of this ARISE agenda.”
He further urged private individuals and organisations to partner with the current administration’s ARISE initiative in Akwa Ibom State, particularly in advancing the Agricultural Revolution.
Our correspondent reports that the conference is organised by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-industry Development Initiative (NADDI), the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria, and the Federal Ministries of Industry, Trade, and Investment and Agriculture and Rural Development. Themed ‘Unlocking Agribusiness Opportunities for Economic Sustainability,’ the event aims to gather stakeholders from crucial economic sectors, including policymakers.
The conference, set to take place from October 27-29, 2024, at the Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort in Uyo, will be attended by over eight Nigerian governors.
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