61 countries to participate at Nigeria Poultry show

Abeokuta 2014’, the fifth edition of the Nigeria Poultry Show holding in Abeokuta, from Tuesday, November 4 to 5, is to attract representatives from about 61 countries.

It is a major international event that will identify investment possibilities within the Nigerian poultry sub-sector. The 2014 show will look to identify investment possibilities within the Nigeria poultry sub-sector, bringing together foreign investors, government and agricultural policy agencies, financial and insurance agencies, public and private investors, and poultry products marketers.

According to Olufemi Faniyi, the Southwest president of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, the norm is that an international event of such is held at the same venue and at the same time of the year annually. He explains, “This is so that international visitors will quickly adjust to coming to the same venue, at the same time of the year and plan ahead.” He further says it is the same with the IPPE which is one of the world’s largest annual poultry, feed, and meat technology exposition held in Atlanta USA and VIV in Utrecht, Holland every year. Therefore, the Nigeria Poultry Show is always held in Abeokuta.

Faniyi states that the number of participating countries which have been confirmed to come to this year’s Abeokuta poultry exhibition is 61 countries including Holland, France, Germany, India, United Kingdom, USA, Jordan and Italy. He says in previous years, there have been 45 participating countries.

Explaining further, Faniyi says, “It is facilitated by Poultry Association of Nigeria in conjunction with Netherland- Africa Business council and Dutch Poultry Centre. Other countries are Italy, France, USA, Jordan, Spain, Israel, Indian, Germany and the United Kingdom. Akinwunmi Adesina, Nigeria’s minister of agriculture and rural development is to declare it open.

On the choice of the venue, the organisers note that Abeokuta offers excellent international facilities as well as huge investments in livestock and significant poultry population.

Faniyi says all the state chapters and the Federal Capital Territory have an active membership in the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) with national headquarters at Abuja, Central Business District.

OLUYINKA ALAWODE