<p>John Bray, the U.S. Consul General in Lagos has urged Nigerians to
stive to become Africa’s food power house as against oil power house by leveraging
 ;on its vast agricultural potential to
create wealth and boost its economy. </p>



<p>Bray said this on Friday in Lagos during the African Food and
Products Conference and Exhibition (AFPE) with the theme, “Sustainability and
Innovation: Pathway to Business Success for SMEs’’ organized by
Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce.. </p>



<p>Bray represented by Brent Omdahl, Commercial Counselor, U.S.
Commercial Service, said that the world knew Nigeria as an oil country not as
an agriculture rich nation. “The task before Nigeria is to show the world its
enormous potential in agriculture. “Nigeria needs to use agriculture to create
wealth, employment and grow its economy, U.S. is doing that and Nigeria can do
that too. </p>



<p>“In the next 50 years, what produce will be known around the world as a signature product from Nigeria. “Would it be shea butter, tiger nut, cashew or palm oil; Nigeria has the comparative advantage in these produce and more and should explore it the same way the U.S. explored cranberry potential to create wealth,” he said. Also, Mr.Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director, Sterling Bank, said that achieving sustainable growth in the country was about the ability to reduce poverty, boost employment and improve citizen’s welfare. Suleiman, represented by Mr.ShinaAtilola, Divisional Head, Retail and Consumer Banking, Sterling Bank, said that any initiative or policy that did not lead to employment creation would not catalyse development. According to him, Sterling Bank is using innovation to facilitate seamless and quick access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises toward aiding their sustainable business growth. He said that many SMEs were using innovation to drive their businesses, expressing optimism that Nigerian businesses would in the nearest future proffer solutions to the world’s food challenge. Earlier, OtunbaOluwatoyinAkomolafe, National President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), said that the chamber sought to utilize AFPE to improve profitability and sustainable global competitiveness for Nigerian SMEs. Akomolafe said that innovation was crucial to achieving a strong organizational structure and robust economic growth. He said that Nigeria’s futuristic economic growth could not be sustained with oil revenue but continued investment and attractive policies to aid growth of SMEs</p>

First Holdco Plc Grows Gross Earnings OpenLife Nigeria reports that First HoldCo Plc has…
Deadly Attack In Ebonyi OpenLife Nigeria reports that Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru has…
Imo State Community Gripped In Fears Over Vigilante Leader’s ‘House Of Death’ …
Sorrow And Joy Of VeryDarkMan OpenLife Nigeria reports that in a dramatic turn of…
"No Allow Jealousy Burn You, The Sky Is So Big For Everybody To Fly"— Funke…
Governor Bago Opens A Window To Reset Democracy In Nigeria OpenLife Nigeria reports that Governor…
This website uses cookies.