Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, will host the 5th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference from 25 to 28 October. Organisers expect global investors, policymakers, farmers, and industry leaders to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
The Nigeria Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Development Initiative, South-South Region, and the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria are organising the conference. They are working with federal ministries and the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The organisers announced the event in a statement on 14 September. They said the focus would be on attracting private investment, developing agro-industrial value chains, and creating opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
The theme of the conference is “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity.”
The event will feature an international trade pavilion, investor deal rooms, business-to-government discussions, workshops, and chances for farmers, agropreneurs, and researchers to connect with markets and investors.
The organisers expect over 500 high-level industry executives, state governors, federal ministers, representatives of international organisations, foreign ambassadors, and financial institutions to attend.
Ibom Hotels & Golf Resort is listed as the venue in the main conference announcement. However, another part of the release mentions Watbridge Hotels & Suites, also in Uyo, as the venue.
The conference’s official website also promotes the fifth edition. It says the event will bring together leaders, investors, policymakers, farmers, and financial institutions to discuss the future of agribusiness.
Opportunity for Akwa Ibom
This conference is important for Akwa Ibom as agriculture is a major part of Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which is the government’s economic plan.
Governor Eno’s plan highlights “Agricultural Revolution and Rural Development” as one of its five main goals. It calls for developing full value chains for key economic crops through farm settlements and integrated farm systems.
The state government sees agriculture as key for food security, economic diversification, and job creation.
In a 2026 Easter broadcast, Mr Eno said his administration has stepped up its agricultural programme through the Ibom Model Farm, agricultural grants, equipment leasing, and providing farm inputs. He also mentioned plans for an oil palm programme involving 620,000 seedlings.
The state government has said the Ibom Model Farm, developed with Songhai Farms, aims to boost food security and create jobs.
The Uyo conference serves as a platform for the state to showcase its agricultural strengths, farming initiatives, and investment opportunities to businesses and financiers.
For Akwa Ibom, the economic benefits could go beyond just farming. If investments go into processing, storage, transportation, packaging, and export infrastructure, it could create jobs throughout the agricultural value chain and open new markets for farmers.
Previous Uyo conference
This upcoming event follows earlier editions of the Agribusiness Roundtable in Uyo.
BusinessDay reported in October 2024 that the third Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference took place at Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo. This event was linked to the ARISE Agenda of the Akwa Ibom government.
The organisers mentioned that registration, sponsorship, and exhibition opportunities for the 2026 conference are available through the conference website and the Agribusiness Roundtable official website.
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