L-R: Public Relations Manager, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Salami Musa; Nigerian Partner, agrofood Nigeria, Odion Aleobua; Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. Olushola Obadimu; Exhibition Director, fairtrade Messe, Freyja Djeten and Institution Head Sales, Kamlesh Pitale, SIMBA TVS, at the Media and Stakeholders Parley, in preparation for the 11th edition of the agrofood Nigeria Tradeshow and Conference scheduled for March 24 – 26, 2026, in Lagos.
Nigeria’s push to build a competitive, industrial-scale food economy is entering a decisive phase, with policymakers, manufacturers, investors, and international technology providers set to converge at agrofood Nigeria 2026, the 11th edition of West Africa’s leading agro-industrial exhibition and conference.
The three-day event, scheduled for March 24–26, 2026, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island Annex, Lagos, comes at a critical moment when Nigeria must urgently reduce food imports, stabilise rising food inflation, and convert agricultural production into scalable, export-ready value chains capable of generating jobs and foreign-exchange earnings.
Although agriculture contributes more than 22 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, weak processing capacity, persistent post-harvest losses, and limited value addition continue to constrain industrial growth across the sector.
Organisers say agrofood Nigeria 2026 is designed to accelerate practical solutions by bringing together decision-makers across the entire agro-food ecosystem to advance the country’s next phase of agro-industrial transformation.
Netherlands Takes Centre Stage as Guest of Honour
The Netherlands, widely regarded as one of the world’s most advanced agri-food economies and the second-largest agricultural exporter globally, will headline the 2026 edition as Guest of Honour and Lead Country Pavilion Exhibitor.
Dutch participation will showcase globally proven innovations in food processing, cold-chain logistics, horticulture, seed technology, packaging, and sustainable production systems, offering practical pathways for scaling Nigeria’s agro-industrial competitiveness in regional and global markets.
Broad International Presence Confirmed
Exhibitors from over 15 countries are expected, reinforcing agrofood Nigeria’s reputation as the most internationally driven agro-industrial marketplace in West Africa.
Confirmed country pavilions include:
Netherlands – Guest of Honour and Lead Pavilion
Germany – Food processing and packaging engineering
China – Processing machinery, automation, and packaging technologies
Belgium – Precision farming and circular food-production systems
South Africa – Western Cape regional showcase
Organisers note that these national showcases are structured to deepen technology transfer, investment partnerships, and value-chain development across Nigeria’s food and agro-allied industries.
Conference to Address Macroeconomics, Trade and Export Growth
The conference programme will examine the economic and trade fundamentals shaping Nigeria’s agro-industrial future.
Day One will feature Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, delivering a data-driven macroeconomic outlook covering inflation dynamics, foreign-exchange exposure, cost of capital, consumer demand, and investment signals affecting agribusiness and food manufacturing.
Day Two will be led by Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist and Managing Director of Research and Trade Intelligence at Afreximbank, who will focus on trade finance, policy alignment, AfCFTA opportunities, and strategies for moving Nigeria’s agro-allied industries from domestic scale to export-ready regional and global value chains.
Industry Leaders Emphasise Shift From Potential to Execution
Paul Maerz, Managing Director of fairtrade Messe, organisers of agrofood Nigeria, said Nigeria’s food challenge has moved beyond production to the urgent need for rapid industrialisation, reduced losses, deeper processing, and compliance with international quality standards, noting that the Netherlands’ leadership reflects the event’s focus on practical and scalable solutions.
Odion Aleobua, Conference and Exhibitor Partner, described the 2026 edition as a transition from potential to execution, stressing that Nigeria’s agro-industrial future will depend on policy clarity, private capital mobilisation, technology adoption, and trade readiness.
Leaders of key private-sector institutions also underscored the event’s importance:
NACCIMA Director-General, Engr. Olushola Obadimu, highlighted the urgency of addressing climate pressures, rising production costs, post-harvest losses, and limited market access through modern technologies and strategic partnerships.
MAN Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the exhibition provides a direct bridge between Nigerian manufacturers and international technologies, global processing standards, and value-addition opportunities that support economic growth, job creation, and food security.
LCCI Director-General, Dr. Chinyere Almona, described the tradeshow as a vital convergence of stakeholders capable of advancing food security and production quality across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Agrofood Nigeria 2026 will convene global investors, policymakers and manufacturers in Lagos to accelerate Nigeria’s agro-industrial transformation, reduce food imports and unlock export-ready value chains.
Agrofood Nigeria is West Africa’s premier annual business platform connecting processors, manufacturers, agribusinesses, policymakers, financiers, and solution providers across food processing, packaging, cold-chain systems, agricultural inputs, and value-chain optimisation.
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