By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigeria is to host the ApiExpo Africa 2018. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh gave this indication on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 in his office when he received the ApiExpo Africa hosting flag.
ApiExpo is the apex apiculture expo in Africa, and it is the most popular business and learning event in the apiculture sector on the continent.
The global event is a catalyst for new and improved programmes, as well as interventions to support the development of apiculture at all levels of the value chain.
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, bided and won the rights to host Africa and the world in 2018 at the ApiExpo Africa held in Kigali, Rwanda in September 2016.
The hosting of the global event by Nigeria will boost local and international trade, thereby increase GDP. It will also enhance diversification of the agricultural industry, expose Nigeria to global trade platform, create jobs for small-holders bee keepers and increase tourism.
The Minister, while receiving the ApiExpo flag, commended the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Honey and Bee Production for winning the hosting right, and assured that Nigeria will host the global event.
He reiterated that a lot of self-poisoning is going on in Nigeria as a result of what we eat. “It is time to take home-grown agricultural products more serious in Nigeria by producing what we eat”, the Minister stated. He described those making efforts to promote home-grown food as real heroes of Nigeria.
Highlights of the event were the handing over of ApiExpo flag to the Minister and the signing of the MOU by the Minister.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya