By Benson Daniel
Key stakeholders across Nigeria’s agriculture and non-oil export sectors are set to converge in Lagos for the 2026 FirstBank Agric & Export Expo, as attention turns to strengthening value chains, expanding access to finance and connecting Nigerian products with international markets.
The two-day hybrid event, scheduled for September 16 and 17 at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, will bring together policymakers, agribusiness operators, exporters, financial institutions, industry experts and other participants in the agricultural ecosystem.
The expo is themed “From Farm to Global Markets: Building Nigeria’s Export Value Chain,” reflecting growing efforts to move agriculture beyond primary production and strengthen the processing, packaging, logistics and financing systems required to compete in international markets.
The event is expected to focus strongly on practical solutions for businesses operating across the agricultural value chain, particularly access to financing, market opportunities and stronger linkages between producers, processors, distributors and exporters.
Discussions will also examine the role of agriculture and non-oil exports in broadening Nigeria’s economic base, creating jobs and generating foreign exchange at a time when the country continues to seek alternatives to heavy dependence on crude oil revenues.
The expo will feature high-level and technical discussions involving policymakers and private-sector leaders. The sessions are expected to address policy direction, financing models and practical measures for repositioning agribusiness and non-oil exports as stronger drivers of economic growth.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, while FirstBank Group Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, will host the event.
Governors from Edo, Niger, Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states are also expected to participate as special guests, highlighting the growing role of state governments in promoting agricultural production, investment and export-oriented businesses.
The 2026 edition builds on previous editions of the expo, which was launched in 2017 to stimulate discussion and action around developing a sustainable agricultural value chain and expanding agriculture’s contribution to economic development and foreign exchange generation.
FirstBank said the latest edition represents a shift from simply creating awareness to promoting execution, business conversion and measurable outcomes across the agricultural and export ecosystem.
The event will also provide opportunities for exhibitors and businesses to showcase agricultural products, equipment, logistics solutions and other services connected to the value chain.
With Nigeria seeking to expand non-oil exports and improve its ability to earn foreign exchange from locally produced goods, stakeholders are expected to use the expo to identify practical partnerships and financing opportunities capable of moving businesses from local production to international markets.
The gathering is therefore expected to serve as a platform for stronger collaboration between government, financial institutions and private-sector operators, particularly in addressing some of the financing, infrastructure, market-access and value-addition challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
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