Lagos, June 22, 2023 – Ecobank has reiterated its commitment to supporting investments that will stimulate the growth of the Nigerian economy and transform the opportunities into businesses and empowerment of youths.
Bolaji Lawal, its Managing Director and Regional Executive, said the bank was ready and determined to tap into the energy of the vibrant youthful population in Nigeria by providing incentives to make agriculture attractive to them.
He spoke at the Agribusiness Investors Network organized by the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) held at the Ecobank Pan Africa Center (EPAC), Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event, organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Ecobank, had in attendance the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, representatives of African Development Bank, Lagos State Government, Nigerian Agribusiness Group, Fintech Association of Nigeria, and some other financial institutions.
Lawal said: “For us as a Pan African bank, we are committed to supporting any investment that will stimulate the growth of Nigeria’s economy and transform the opportunities in Nigeria into business.
“We are determined to tap into the energy of the vibrant young population in Nigeria by providing incentives that would make agriculture attractive to them.”
Lawal said he was optimistic that the event, which presented opportunity to discuss trends in global agribusiness, digital financing, import and export opportunities and inter-continental partnerships, would go a long way to repositioning the Nigerian agriculture sector.
Ken Dashiell, the Deputy Director, Partnership and Delivery in IITA, said that it had become imperative for stakeholders to work together to empower the youth in transforming Nigeria’s food system.
Dashiell said government and other development partners must begin to put the right policies and programs in place to attract the youth into agriculture. (GBN)
