President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria will address the convergence of key international players and investors in agriculture’s natural rubber subsector.
The banquet hall of Aso Rock Villa Abuja will host the 2-day global event from July 31st to August 1st, 2024.
Some of the dignitaries billed to speak at the global rubber summit include His Excellency Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, managing director of the Common Fund for Commodities, Amsterdam; His Excellency Mr. Aly Toure, permanent representative of Cote d’Ivoire to international commodities organisation London; minister plenipotentiary and director of the UN and Decentralised Cooperatives Ministry of External Relations, Cameroon; and Prof. Joseph Adelegan, who is Secretary General and executive head of the International Rubber Study Group.
We anticipate the arrival of additional rubber experts from Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, and other rubber-producing nations.
Minister of Industries, Trade, and Investments, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, who is the chief host, has expressed the economic importance of the subsector and why the country is very keen on hosting the global event.
She called on rubber-producing governors and their key rubber players to necessarily attend.
She stated that the federal government got the hosting right because the rubber industry was critical to the country’s economic mainstay.
Meanwhile, an appeal has been made to the governors of natural rubber-producing states, especially in the southern part of Nigeria, regarded as the bastion of the cash crop, to take advantage of the arrival of investors and international rubber experts and participate in the World Rubber Summit.
Speaking to journalists, the national vice president of the National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NARPPMAN) for the South, Mr. Usen Umoh, said, “This summit presents an unparalleled opportunity to rejuvenate the rubber industry, fostering economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social progress within the South-South region.
“By engaging in this summit, our states can attract investments, boost local economies, and create jobs.”
He disclosed that rubber is a vital cash crop with significant export potential, revealing that global leaders and industry experts will provide invaluable insights into the latest advancements and opportunities in the rubber sector.
Mr. Usen listed key advantages, saying rubber plantations contribute to carbon sequestration, which enables them to combat climate change and promote ecological balance.
He maintained that participation in the summit will enable producing states to adopt sustainable practices and enhance their commitment to environmental conservation.
In light of the current harsh times, Usen called for the revival of the rubber industry to improve the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and their families.
