…Federal Ministries, UN agencies, others confirm participation
By Ime Silas
UYO — Preparations for the 5th Agribusiness Roundtable International Conference, tagged Uyo 2026, have entered the final phase as the Akwa Ibom State Agribusiness Unit and the Central Organizing Committee met to review the level of preparedness for the international gathering.
The strategic review meeting, held in Uyo, provided an opportunity for the committee led by its Convener and Chairman, Howard Usen, to brief the Director of the Agribusiness Unit on programme planning, stakeholder engagement, protocol and logistics arrangements for receiving participants from across Nigeria and beyond.
Speaking during the meeting, Usen said the committee was working closely with relevant partners to deliver a well-coordinated and productive conference, describing Uyo 2026 as a strategic platform to unite critical actors in the agricultural ecosystem.
He said the conference is designed to bring government, industry, farmers, investors and development partners together to identify practical ways to strengthen agricultural value chains and expand agribusiness opportunities in the country.
“All hands are on deck to ensure a successful conference—one that promotes meaningful dialogue, practical partnerships and lasting value for Akwa Ibom State and the wider agribusiness community,” Usen said.
Responding, the Director of the Agribusiness Unit welcomed the update and assured the committee of the Unit’s full readiness to support the conference to a successful conclusion.
He noted that Uyo 2026 would offer an important opportunity to showcase the work of the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, particularly the state’s agricultural development priorities under the ARISE Agenda, which places emphasis on food security, rural development and job creation.
According to the press release issued by the Central Organizing Committee, the conference has already secured major institutional backing, with formal endorsements from two key federal ministries.
The release stated that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, FMAFS, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, FMITI, have both endorsed the conference, with the Permanent Secretaries of both ministries confirming their participation.
In addition to the federal government endorsement, representatives of key United Nations agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, are also expected to participate, alongside government officials, development partners, investors and private-sector leaders.
The organisers said they are currently coordinating with participating institutions to confirm delegations and finalize programme details.
Scheduled to take place from October 25 to 28, 2026, at Watbridge Hotels and Suites, Uyo, the conference is themed: “Accelerating Agribusiness Transformation: Unlocking Value Chains to Achieve Food Security, Nutrition Sustainability, Job Creation, Poverty Alleviation, and National Prosperity.”
The theme, according to the committee, reflects the urgency of transforming Nigeria’s agriculture from subsistence to a commercially viable, industrial and investment-driven sector capable of addressing hunger, unemployment and poverty.
The committee explained that the conference is designed to provide a meeting point for policymakers, agribusinesses, farmers, cooperatives, processors, financiers, researchers, technology providers and development organisations.
Its programme, it added, will support discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture and agribusiness, while creating space for participants to share experience, present products and services, and explore potential collaborations.
Key areas of discussion are expected to include agricultural value-chain development, food security and nutrition, processing and value addition, post-harvest loss reduction, access to finance, climate resilience, trade and market access, skills development, and the participation of women and young people in agribusiness.
Exhibitors, the statement noted, will have an opportunity to present their products, technologies, services and investment opportunities to conference participants, while farmers, cooperatives and entrepreneurs will also be able to connect with relevant organisations and explore potential business and institutional partnerships.
A major highlight of Uyo 2026 will be the unveiling of the Uyo Declaration on Climate-Resilient Agribusiness, Origin Processing, AfCFTA Trade Integration and Food Security (2026–2035).
The Declaration, the committee said, is intended to provide a framework for continued dialogue and cooperation among participating stakeholders, addressing shared priorities for building more resilient agricultural systems, strengthening local processing and value addition, improving market access, and supporting inclusive economic development.
Its proposed actions and recommendations will be discussed with participants and shaped through the conference process, with the aim of encouraging ongoing collaboration among government, the private sector, farmers, research institutions and development partners beyond the conference itself.
Meanwhile, the Central Organizing Committee has invited federal and state agencies, UN and development organisations, donor agencies, financial institutions, private-sector companies, farmers’ associations, cooperatives, processors, entrepreneurs, exhibitors, media organisations and members of the public to participate in the conference.
Interested organisations and individuals have been encouraged to contact the Secretariat for information about registration, exhibition, sponsorship and partnership opportunities.