By Dipo Olowookere
Head of Agribusiness at Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Mojisola Oguntoyinbo, has said the financial institution is prepared for this year’s Agric Business Summit.
The summit with the theme Unlocking productivity and investment opportunities across the Agribusiness value chain is scheduled for February 13, 2020 at the Grand Banquet Hall, Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It is part of the bank’s determination to further showcase the potentials in the agricultural sector of the nation’s economy in partnership with Vanguard newspapers, the Economic Forum Series and Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).
According to Mrs Oguntoyinbo, the summit is also part of the lender’s continuous contribution to the growth and development of the agriculture sector of the nation’s economy.
She stated that a pool of notable thought leaders and industry experts have been assembled to address key and current issues in the agricultural space as it relates to current economic developments.
She also stated that participants will be given the opportunity to exhibit their products and services within the agriculture value chain.
some of those expected at the event include Agric Minister, Mr Sabo Nanono; Chief Economist and Partner, Financial Services Sector, PwC, Mr Andrew Nevin; MD/CEO of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan; MD/CEO of NIRSAL, Mr Abdulhameed Aliyu; Vice President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Mr Mr Emmanuel Ijewere; Country CEO of AFEX Commodities Exchange, Mr Ayodeji Balogun; amongst others.
“This maiden edition of the Ecobank Agribusiness Summit is to stimulate discussions, examine critically the opportunities with the intent of unlocking the growth potentials in the entire value chain of the agric sector.
“The full day event will include keynote speakers, panel discussion sessions and exhibition of Agro and Agro-allied products where marketplace experience will be created for buyers and sellers to interact and make sales.
“Between 400 to 450 companies, regulators and other stake holders in Agric-business are expected to attend and participate at the event. This will create opportunity for networking among the industry players,” Mrs Oguntoyibo.
The banker noted that the summit would amongst other things examine the potential impact of agriculture technology investment in fixing low productivity in Nigeria’s food production; how government policy, laws and regulatory framework can drive effective public private partnership; evaluate existing traditional agriculture finance models in Nigeria and the role and impact of technology enabled commodity exchange trading across the agriculture value chain, and the role of developmental partners and international agencies in driving funding and investments across the agriculture value chain.
Co-founder of the Economic Forum Series and Director, Vanguard Conferences, Jude Ndu, while commenting on the programme, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Ecobank Nigeria on the conceptualisation, strategy and execution of this high profile event in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agriculture policy and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of the federal government.
“As a media organisation, this is our own way of contributing to the growth prospect of the sector through audience engagement by bringing together critical stakeholders to discuss solutions to the issues of low productivity and investment opportunities across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.”
Recall that recently, Ecobank Nigeria announced an Agriculture Businesses Finance Scheme where it plans to disburse additional loan of N70 billion for practitioners in different value chains of agriculture within the next two years.
Adedapo Adesanya