Nigeria to host continental summit on bee-keeping

Nigeria has been awarded the honour to host the next edition of Africa’s apex bee-keeping stakeholders’ event – Apiculture Expo (ApiExpo) in 2018.

The award was accorded during the recently concluded ApiExpo Africa 2016, held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development in Abuja, the Chairman of the Nigeria Apiculture Platform, Ademola Adeshina, described the hosting right as a huge opportunity to boost local and international trade which will in turn increase the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

According to Adeshina, “There will be diversification of the apiculture industry with the introduction of new and relevant technologies and exposure to global trade platforms as the various participating countries and manufacturers that will come into the country will link up with local producers, processors and bee-keepers and this will generate foreign exchange for us”.

Also commenting on this development, the Director, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services of the Ministry – Dr Dooshima Kwange lauded the current attention being given to Nigeria’s Apiculture for the first time in an effort to diversify the economy by the present administration.

She however added that to formalise the hosting rights, Nigeria was required to pay the bid fee of $50,000, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and set up an APIEXPO Africa Organising Committee.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh has applauded the planned initiative to boost honey production in the country.

Ogbeh noted that Nigeria’s import bill on honey per annum from China stands at about a $100,000,000 yet the quality of some of the honey imported was questionable.  

The Minister also challenged the Platform to explore new knowledge in Bee keeping that could help boost the honey and Bee business in the country adding that there are plans to distribute Bee hives to farmers in the country.

Climax of the visit was the presentation of the ApiExpo Africa flag to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development followed by the signing of the MoU with the ministry on Nigeria’s ApiExpo hosting right. The event is scheduled to hold in Abuja.