By Benjamin Umuteme and Binta Shama
Abuja
In a bid to boost rice farming in Nigeria, Global Exhibition and Business Services Limited (GEBSL), is set to support rice farmers with over N5 billion worth of equipment.
The Managing Director of the organisation, Alhaji Bawa Garuba, who disclosed this when he visited the Headquarters of Blueprint Newspapers yesterday in Abuja said that the initiative would boost rice production in the country.
Alh. Garuba explained that the organisation’s gesture to support the President Muhammad Buhari-led administrations drive to make Nigeria self sufficient in food production.
According to him, they will be bringing tractors to the fair to sell at lower rates to the farmers because many of them don’t have the finance saying that buyers are expected to make 25 per cent cash payment and the remaining spread over 3 years.
The government is doing much in the agricultural sector, laying more emphasis on agriculture. But we need to support them to do more as private sector because we cannot leave it all for the government it do it alone.
The businessman who disclosed that plans are in top gear by the group to organise an Agriculture and Solid Mineral Expo in 2018 with the theme: “Revamping the agriculture and solid mineral sector: Our gateway to economic diversification pointed out that the event will further give fillip to the economic diversification agenda of the present government away from its over dependence on oil.
He said they were at Blueprint to seek support to make the forthcoming event a success.
“We wish to partner with an organisation like yours. We have visited Daily Trust and they have accepted us as well as CBN. It is basically on agriculture and solid minerals which will be the first fair ever. It is coming in May 2018 and the Ministries of Agriculture and Solid minerals have agreed to partner with us and other are willing to collaborate. Eve the ministry of Science and Technology have indicated their willingness to storm the venue of the fair with 17 Agencies under it.
The President will be there to flag-off the event. That is why we have decided to partner with your newspaper as one of the fastest growing paper in the country.”
The Agric and solid mineral Expo hold from 4th – 14th May, 2018.
The Chairman, Blueprint newspapers, Alhaji Mohammed Idris said the organization considers it an honour to be partnering with the Group in its bid to support farming in the country.
Alh. Idris while noting that Alh. Garuba will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the group, assured the Global Exhibition and Services delegation that the newspaper would synergise and ensure that everything goes as planned.
“It’s a privilege for me to honour this visit today because he is one of the most astute businessmen I have ever known. I say this because I got my first mentoring in business from him.”
