COMFORT EKELEME
As part of its commitment to support agric 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 Thursday held the second edition of its annual agric expo in Lagos.
The Expo was themed: “Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy”.The 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 per cent, had in attendance key policy influencers, agriculture service providers, primary producers, exporters and top players in the agric value chain. The 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.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Mr. 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.
Ogbeh officially declared the expo open and led other dignitaries on a tour of the exhibition booths as he did in the inaugural edition, while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, delivered the goodwill message at the event.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, stated that the bank has over the years, committed to nation building, while 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 agro businesses. I am pleased to note that agricultural financing across all value chains remains a core part of our business today,” he said.
For a better society
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