Agribusiness revolution, key to Nigeria’s economic recovery – Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Essien
Chairman, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Nutrition and Food Security, Moses Essien has identified agribusiness revolution as a strategic pathway to reviving Nigeria’s struggling economy.
He called on communities and the nation to move from smallholder farming to commercial agribusiness.
Essien stated this at the 4th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which was organised by the Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative (NAADI) with the theme: “Resilient Agribusiness: A Sustainable Solution for a Changing World,”
Essien who is the lawmaker representing Ibiono Ibom State constituency 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.
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.
His words. “As lawmakers, we remain committed to supporting agricultural transformation through enabling legislation, rural infrastructure development, agricultural financing frameworks, and private sector participation,”
He urged conference participants to translate discussions into practical collaboration and measurable outcomes that would reposition Nigerian agribusiness for global competitiveness even as he commended NAADI for its consistency in promoting agribusiness development.
