By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
A member of the Akwa Ibom Assembly, Mr Moses Essien has called for the development of a robust and sustainable agribusiness sector as a strategic pathway to reviving Nigeria’s struggling economy.
Essien who is the chairman of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committees on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, spoke at the 4th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference held in Uyo, organised by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI)
The Lawmaker noted that a resilient agribusiness system has the capacity to adapt and thrive in the face of global challenges while also generating employment, enhancing trade, and diversifying Nigeria’s revenue base noted that the conference was a veritable platform for uniting critical stakeholders, policymakers and investors to drive growth in the agricultural value chain.
He said the theme of the Conference, “Resilient Agribusiness: A Sustainable Solution for a Changing World,” explored the role of agribusiness in tackling economic instability, climate threats, and rising food insecurity was in line with tthe agricultural vision of Governor Umo Eno citing strides in large-scale farming, rural enterprise development, and youth-focused agricultural training.
He opined that the initiatives were gradually transforming agriculture from a subsistence activity into a competitive enterprise.
According to Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, the area remained a strategic agricultural hub with vast fertile lands suitable for the cultivation of cassava, maize and oil palm, but stressed that communities and the nation must now move from smallholder farming to commercial agribusiness.
He identified mechanization, agro-processing, value addition, and access to finance as key drivers of progress in the sector, adding that agribusiness has the potential to stimulate growth in related sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, finance and technology.
“As lawmakers, we remain committed to supporting agricultural transformation through enabling legislation, rural infrastructure development, agricultural financing frameworks, and private sector participation.” Essien said.
He urged participants to translate discussions into practical collaboration and measurable outcomes that would reposition Nigerian agribusiness for global competitiveness and commended NAADI for its consistency in promoting agribusiness development, expressing optimism that the resolutions from the conference would accelerate economic diversification, job creation, and food security across Nigeria.
