As part of its commitment to support agro businesses across the value chain and play its enabling role in the nation’s drive for economic diversification through agriculture, First Bank of Nigeria Limited held the second edition of its annual agric expo on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Expo was themed “Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy”
The FirstBank Agric Expo, launched in 2017, was designed as a lead to national discourse on the economic benefits of sustainable agriculture value-chain as an alternative source of economic development and foreign exchange through export. The event which was over-subscribed by100% had in attendance key policy influencers, agriculture service providers, primary producers, exporters and top players in the agric value chain.
The 2018 Agric expo was geared to drive conversations and collaborations that promote sustainable businesses for Agropreneurs whilst creating avenues for growth and increased per capita income in the larger economy.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Audu Ogbeh was the special guest of honour at the expo, while Dr. Doyin Salami, a Senior Fellow/Associate Professor and full-time member of the Faculty at the Lagos Business School delivered the keynote address on the theme of the day. The Minister officially declared the expo open and led other dignitaries on a tour of the exhibition booths as he did in the inaugural edition. Okechukwu Enelamah, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment delivered the goodwill message at the event.
Speaking at the event, the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan stated that FirstBank has over the years, committed to nation building, whilst promoting agric-business and the development of the economy in Nigeria. ”This second consecutive edition of the FirstBank Agric Expo is indicative of our commitment to increasingly collaborate with public and private sector partners to fully restore the prime role of the agricultural sector as the mainstay of our national economy. Over 124 years ago, our Bank commenced operations with a major strategic focus on financing agriculture development as well as enabling farmers and agrobusinesses. I am pleased to note that agricultural financing across all value chains remains a core part of our business today.”
The Expo featured master classes aimed at providing in-depth exposition on specific areas of Agricultural business. The classes were facilitated by enterprising subject matter experts who shared their success stories and experiences in the business segment. The master classes were ‘Agricultural Processing for Self-reliance and Export’ and ‘iAgric: Emerging Trends for Agropreneurs’.