Aregbesola Meets Agritech Nigeria Team, Promises Osun’s Support For Agric Exhibitions Event

The Executive Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola Thursday evening met with the team of Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 at his office in Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo.

The team of Agritech Nigeria,  which comprises top officials of the State’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Fesco Agalu Enterprises Nigeria Limited and SIFAX Group of Companies,  was on a courtesy visit to brief the Governor on the preparation for the Africa’s first-ever and largest Exhibition and Conference on agriculture, farm machineries, dairy, poultry, water technology, livestock equipment, agriculture processing technologies and environmental control.

The State of Osun will host the event in November this year. The Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 Team was led to the Governor Office by the Honourable Commissionerifor Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Olakunle Ige.

The Governor appreciated the efforts and the works done so far by the Team. He said he was full of appreciation to Fesco Agalu Enterprises Nigeria Limited led by its Executive Director, Mr Yahaya Majeed, who had since 2016 being in the vanguard of ensuring that the agri-exhibition and conference is held in the state.

 

“Majeed and his team are courageous and steadfast in their pursuit even when we told him that the state was not financially buoyant to undertake such money spinning project. He didn’t lose hope and thank goodness today, we are having a conglomerate, SIFAX Group of Companies which came in to financial the project. This is a testimony that whatever you know how to do, keep on having faith and commitment on it,” the Governor told his guests.

“I want to also appreciate the management of SIFAX Group for looking towards the state for this laudable project which will further take agriculture to the next level in Nigeria. I thank the CEO of the company for the support and patriotism to Nigeria, and we could only implore the company to put all resources into this Agritech Nigeria project till we see it done.

L-R: Executive Director, Fesco Agalu, Majeed Yahaya, GM, Business Development and Strategy of SIFAX Group, Mr Saheed Lasisi, Governor Aregbesola, Corporate Affairs Manager, SIFAX Group, Mr Muyiwa Akande, SA on Agric, Mr Claudius Kolajo, Coordinator Anchor Borrowing Programme, State of Osun, Mr Sanmi Bamidele during the visit to the Governor in Osogbo. 

 

“The Government of the State of Osun is solidly behind this project, we will put all our resources towards ensuring security before, during and after the event. We will reach out to Nigerians to support the project and I want to assure that the state is looking forward to seeing Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 taking place in Osogbo, ” he said.

Executive Director, Fesco Agalu Enterprises Nigeria Limited, Mr Yahaya praised the administration of Aregbesola for ensuring that agriculture is a major priority of the government, adding that what the state has achieved in agriculture since the governor came to office is being reported all over the world.

He told the Governor that Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 Team will be going to Israel next month to attend Agritech Israel 2018 holding at the Tel Aviv International Trade Centre from 8-10 May.

“This is an international gathering of exhibitors, investors and visitors where we will officially unveil Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 event to the whole world. The Nigerian Ambassador to Israel, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of  Water Resources and members of Nigerian community in Israel will be there when we are unveiling our State to the world, ”  Yahaya said.

Mr Saheed Lasisi, General Manager, Business Development and Strategy of SIFAX Group told the Governor of his company’s capacity and capability to financial Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 event, adding that the CEO of the company, Mr Taiwo Afolabi appreciated the diversification policy of the Federal Government from oil dependency to agriculture.

He said SIFAX Group, which is into the business of Maritime, Aviation, Haulage, Logistics and Freight Forwarding (Sea & Air) in Nigeria,  has seen agriculture as another laudable business and they were so proud to be part of the people who are bringing the first-ever international agricultural exhibition  and conference to Nigeria and indeed the State of Osun.

The Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Security to the Governor, Mr Claudius Kolajo said that Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 is an event that Africa has never seen before, and promised that the Ministry of Agriculture will not let Governor Aregbesola  and Nigeria down.

Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 will be organised in conjunction with Kenes Exhibitions, organiser of Agritech Israel in the past 20 years. The event will be a melting point where over 1000 international and local exhibitors will assemble. A gathering of more than 400,000 visitors all over the world to discuss business opportunities in agriculture.

It is an event where Africans will meet their European counterparts without necessary travel to Europe. It is a platform for investors meeting to discuss businesses of mutual business. It will also promote Osun cultural tourism as delegation from abroad would have the opportunity of seeing the beauty of Osun tourism and more importantly the tourist potentials of the South West States of Nigeria during the event.