Uyo to host 5th Agribusiness conference, organisers target investment, jobs

Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, will host the 5th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference from 25 to 28 October, with organisers expecting global investors, policymakers, farmers and industry executives to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.

The conference is organised by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative, South-South Region, and the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria, in collaboration with federal ministries and the Akwa Ibom State Government.

The organisers announced the event in a 14 September statement, saying it would focus on attracting private capital, developing agro-industrial value chains and creating opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.

The conference is themed “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity.”

The organisers said the event would feature an international trade pavilion, investor deal rooms, business-to-government engagements, workshops, and opportunities for farmers, agropreneurs and researchers to connect with markets and investors.

They said more than 500 high-level industry executives are expected, alongside state governors, federal ministers, representatives of multilateral institutions, foreign ambassadors and financial institutions.

The organisers listed Ibom Hotels & Golf Resort as the venue in the main conference announcement. However, another section of the release lists Watbridge Hotels & Suites, also in Uyo, as the venue.

The conference’s official website also advertises the fifth edition and says it will bring together leaders, investors, policymakers, farmers and financial institutions to discuss the future of agribusiness.

Opportunity for Akwa Ibom

The conference comes as agriculture occupies a central position in Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, the administration’s economic blueprint.

Governor Eno’s blueprint identifies “Agricultural Revolution and Rural Development” among its five core aspirations. It also calls for the development of full value chains for major economic crops through farm settlements and integrated farm systems.

The state government has subsequently highlighted agriculture as part of its strategy for food security, economic diversification and job creation.

In a 2026 Easter broadcast, Mr Eno said his administration had intensified its agricultural programme through the Ibom Model Farm, agricultural grants, and equipment leasing and farm inputs. He also announced plans for an oil palm programme involving 620,000 seedlings.

The state government earlier said the Ibom Model Farm, developed in collaboration with Songhai Farms, was expected to contribute to food security and create jobs.

The Uyo conference therefore provides a platform for the state to present its agricultural assets, farming initiatives and potential investment opportunities to businesses and financiers.

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For Akwa Ibom, the potential economic gains extend beyond primary farming if investment is channelled into processing, storage, transportation, packaging and export infrastructure. Such linkages could create employment across the agricultural value chain while expanding markets for farmers.

Previous Uyo conference

The planned event follows previous editions of the Agribusiness Roundtable in Uyo.

BusinessDay reported in October 2024 that the third Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference opened at Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, with the event linked to the ARISE Agenda of the Akwa Ibom government.

The organisers said registration, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for the 2026 conference are available through the conference website and the Agribusiness Roundtable official website