The 12th edition of the All Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) will hold in Port Harcourt from August 3 to 7.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Kenneth Ugbechie, Chairman, 2016 ANEC Planning Committee in Abuja.
The theme of the 2016 edition is: “Economic Diversification: Agriculture as Option for a Prosperous Nigeria” and the conference is expected to be attended by about 300 editors.
Also expected to attend are mainstream farmers, agriculture financiers, policy makers and captain of industry.
Host Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the conference would afford the state the opportunity to showcase its investment potential.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike noted that the conference would be a fitting platform to partner with editors and the media to consolidate development in both the state and the nation at large.
Wike noted that the state was hosting several national and international events as a demonstration of the fact that Rivers ” is an investors’ destination.”
According to the governor, the state is peaceful and hospitable.
“Hosting the conference will also make the editors witness first-hand the development projects and programmes of my administration which has improved the living standard of the people,” he said.
The All Nigerian Editors’ Conference is the largest gathering of Nigerian editors.
It is a watering hole of ideas that have shaped government policies and programmes over the years.
The maiden edition was held in 2004 at Ada, in Osun State and subsequent editions held in various parts of the country.
The conference also attracts both local and foreign speakers as well as editors from organisations such as the West African Editors Forum (WAEF), African Editors Forum (TAEF), World Editors Forum (WEF) and World Association of Newspapers (WAN).
This year’s edition has been tailored primarily to focus on agriculture as a counterfoil to the dwindling receipts from crude oil.
Speakers include a rich mix of practising farmers, agriculture financiers and policy-makers.
The Founder of HoneySuckle PTL Ventures, Mosunmola Cynthia Umoru, would speak on Agriculture as Panacea for Unemployment while Mr Kola Adeniji of Niji Farms would talk on Agriculture as a Foreign Exchange Earner.
The Chief Executive of Bank of Agriculture, Prof. Danbala Danju, would be explaining the Role of Banks in Agriculture Financing.
A Kano-based farmer, Muhammad Abubakar, the Managing Director of L&Z Integrated Farms would experientially explore the topic: Making the Most of Agriculture Value Chain.
The Acting President of the Guild, Funke Egbemode said that the sole emphasis on agriculture for this year’s conference was in response to the falling price of crude oil at the international market.
She said this had automatically reduced government’s earnings and revenue base, adding that this is the first time the conference is focusing on agriculture in the most pragmatic sense.
