ANEC 2016 goes to Rivers State with agriculture, investment topping agenda

NaijaAgroNet:

The 12^th edition of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) is headed to oil-rich Rivers State with top on the agenda being agriculture and investment, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The five-day conference slated for August 3 through 7 in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State comes with the theme: Economic Diversification: Agriculture as Option for a Prosperous Nigeria.

The Acting President of the Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode, said no fewer than 300 Nigerian editors, a collection of mainstream farmers, agriculture financiers, policy-makers and captains of industry would be expected to grace the event.

“The sole emphasis on agriculture for this year’s conference was in response to the falling price of crude oil at the international market which has automatically reduced government’s earnings and revenue base. This is the first the conference is focusing on agriculture in the most pragmatic sense and it is meant to draw the nation’s attention to the limitless opportunities that abound in agriculture” Egbemode said.

She also quoted the host Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, as saying in a press statement available to NaijaAgroNet that the conference would afford the state the opportunity to showcase its investment potentials.

According to the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike noted that the conference would be a fitting platform to partner with editors and the media to consolidate development in both the state and the nation at large.

Wike pointed out that the state is hosting several national and international events as a demonstration of the fact that Rivers State is an investors’ destination, stressing that the state is peaceful and the people hospitable.

“Hosting this year’s conference will also make the editors witness first-hand the development projects and programmes of my administration which has improved the living standard of the people,” he said.

NaijaAgroNet recalls that the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors and has become a watering hole of ideas that shaped government policies and programmes over the years, with the maiden edition held in 2004 at Ada, in Osun State.

Also, ANEC had previously attracted both local and foreign speakers as well as editors from organizations such as the West African Editors Forum (WAEF), the African Editors Forum (TAEF), the World Editors Forum (WEF) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN).

This year’s edition has been tailored primarily to focus on agriculture as a counterfoil to the dwindling receipts from crude oil.  Speakers include a rich mix of practicing farmers, agriculture financiers and policy-makers.

The Founder of HoneySuckle PTL Ventures, Mosunmola Cynthia Umoru, would speak on Agriculture as Panacea for Unemployment while Mr. Kola Adeniji of Niji Farms would talk on Agriculture as a Foreign Exchange Earner.

The Chief Executive of Bank of Agriculture, Professor Danbala Danju would be explaining the 'Role of Banks in Agriculture Financing while Kano-based farmer, Muhammad Abubakar, the Managing Director of L&Z Integrated Farms would experientially explore the topic: Making the Most of Agriculture Value Chain.

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