Investors in Nigeria’s agric sector have expressed a firm belief that the industry would have a bright future as they applaud the foundation laid by Akinwunmi Adesina, the former minister of agriculture and rural development
To honour the outgone minister, the private sector led by the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) organised a cocktail party and dinner recently in Lagos.
The gathering which brought together, a large number of private and public sector stakeholders in Nigeria’ agriculture industry was an official send-forth party by the private sector for the former minister as he goes on to take up the mantle of leadership as president of the African Development Bank (AfDB)
In a statement preceding the event signed by Sani Dangote, chairman, NABG and Emmanuel Ijewere, coordinator, the agric investors said, “It is a well-deserved appointment and we are all happy about it, he is a big thinker and also a futuristic person. In our own case, when the Eminent Persons Group came up with the idea of setting up an umbrella body for Agribusiness in Nigeria, he quickly bought it, pursued it and today we have that body which makes Agribusiness future brighter in Nigeria. This is the kind of person that can convert the AfDB into an institution that will take advantage of Africa’s Comparative advantages”
The Nigeria Agribusiness Group also expressed its support to the former agric minister to help build a new Africa with prosperous, sustainable and inclusive growth; one that is peaceful, secure and united, regionally integrated and globally competitive in his new role at AfDB.
The group stated, “His leadership in the agricultural transformation of Nigerian agriculture and his valuable achievements in the field of agricultural research for development in Africa are examples of his commitment to what he believes in and we are honoured to have had the pleasure of working with him over the last four years.”
