The Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, has called for stronger collaboration between government, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs to accelerate Nigeria’s transition into an export-driven economy.
Speaking at the 2025 Agric & Export Expo held in Lagos, Alebiosu described the event as a “defining platform” for advancing the country’s economic diversification agenda.
“This year’s theme, The Fundamentals of Building an Export-Driven Economy, could not be more timely. As a nation, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in our economic journey, one that demands bold diversification beyond oil,” he said.
The FirstBank boss emphasised that the expo is more than a gathering, but a “beacon for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth,” with the potential to secure Nigeria’s future prosperity and position it competitively on the global stage.
The 2025 edition featured two key sessions – a Plenary Session on strategic pathways for agribusiness and non-oil exports, and a Technical Session that examined practical solutions to reposition the sectors as growth drivers.
Alebiosu highlighted FirstBank’s long-standing involvement in agribusiness financing, noting that the bank’s portfolio spans primary production, processing, and export support. “For more than a century, we have played a defining role in financing industries vital not only to Nigeria’s progress but also to sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
He also commended the Federal Government’s renewed focus on agriculture, describing it as central to Nigeria’s development agenda.
Reaffirming FirstBank’s commitment, Alebiosu said: “By fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and making strategic investments, we can unlock the full potential of our agricultural value chain and open new pathways to shared prosperity.”
The expo, renamed to reflect its broadened scope on exports, is expected to generate actionable insights, fresh partnerships, and long-term strategies to power Nigeria’s non-oil economy.
