FirstBank Agric & Export Expo: Gov. Sanwo-Olu, Bago, Industry Leaders Chart Path For Non-Oil Trade
𝘽𝙮 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙬𝙖𝙟𝙪 𝙎𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙣
At the Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, FirstBank brought together an influential mix of policymakers, industry leaders, and business executives for its inaugural Agric & Export Expo — a bold platform designed to accelerate Nigeria’s transition from oil dependency to sustainable non-oil trade.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Niger State Governor Umaru Bago headlined the gathering, lending weight to conversations around unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and scaling export opportunities.
The Expo, themed around driving inclusive growth, placed agriculture at the heart of economic diversification. Stakeholders explored strategies to boost productivity, strengthen global competitiveness, and attract investment into agro-processing and export infrastructure.
Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized Lagos’ role as Nigeria’s trade hub and called for stronger collaboration between government and the private sector to harness the state’s comparative advantage. Governor Bago, on his part, spotlighted Niger’s expansive arable land as a frontier for agribusiness investment, urging stakeholders to channel resources into commercial farming and value addition.
Industry captains echoed the urgency of building a resilient non-oil export economy, stressing innovation, financing, and international market access as game-changers. FirstBank reaffirmed its commitment to financing agribusinesses and empowering exporters with tailored financial solutions to compete globally.
The Expo not only served as a marketplace of ideas but also as a rallying call: Nigeria’s economic future lies beyond oil — and the path forward is anchored on agriculture, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
But the message was unmistakable: beyond oil lies the true power of a nation’s fields and factories. Agriculture is not just Nigeria’s backbone—it is the passport propelling the country into the heart of global trade.
