In his
keynote address, agribusiness strategist, Mr.
Sotonye Anga, stressed the need to boost production and add value to Nigeria’s
agricultural exports. Speaking on the theme, “The multibillion-dollar business for non-oil sector in Nigeria,”
Anga noted that activities in the agricultural sector had the potential to
reduce hunger; create jobs and wealth; and enhance food security and economic
development.
In Sotonye
Anga’s own words, “If we take agriculture seriously and
deliberately build our capacity in production, processing and marketing of
agricultural products, we can generate and earn $40bn annually as revenue.”
Anga
canvassed greater focus on value addition to farm produce as opposed to
exporting them in their raw state noting, “Exporters can earn more by adding
value to farm produce. As agribusiness people, our wealth comes from growing
the crops, selling them and everything in-between.”
The
Managing Director, OG2 Tech Consult and Investment Limited, Godwin Okoh, who is the organiser of
the conference, said his company had discovered a knowledge gap in the export
business which it aimed to bridge.
Okoh
said, “Our aim is to bridge the gap by providing
relevant information and skills to young entrepreneurs. The non-oil sector is
very lucrative currently and we want people to have information about the
potential of agribusiness and how to be agro-exporters. We want young
entrepreneurs to know how to use the opportunities in the sector and how to
make money from Nigeria’s numerous cash crops.”
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