By Kingsley Adegboye

Organisers and promoters of the annual Food and Beravage FAB, West Africa exhibition, Trade Show Organisers Nigeria Limited, has called for government’s support in the quest to encourage local business operators to grow.

Brad Smith, Exhibition Manager of Food and Beverages West Africa, made the call at just concluded three-day show held at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Smith who disclosed that the major objective of the exhibition is to promote Nigerian businesses and introduce new products to Nigeria, particularly products popular among many Nigerians in Diaspora, said “We will love to see how we can collaborate with the government to be able to bring things that involve much support for local businesses and local manufacturers to help grow and help them develop. We would like to have conversation, if they listen, we would love to work with them.”

Disclosing that the exhibition recorded 350 participants from over 50 countries, including over 6,000 individuals attending from across West Africa, said his company had been getting support from government, but they will need more support from the government.

According to him,“We would love more support if possible. We will need their support to boost the economy.”

He noted that his company had exhibited much commitment to supporting indigenous companies by continuously attracting manufacturers, distributors, investors, and consumers from across the globe to encourage local business operators, stressing that “FABWA aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem that promotes innovation and technical advancement within Nigeria’s food and beverage sector.

“This has brought about different product scopes and innovations. FABWA will attract the attention of the Nigerian government to further develop this value chain, ensuring that local manufacturers are equipped with the knowledge and technical abilities to thrive in a competitive global market.

“This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Nigerian government, They have played a critical role in enabling us to host over 350 exhibitors showcasing their products and services to thousands of visitors. Nigeria has been incredibly supportive of our mission and vision, and we have no plans to move the hosting rights away from the country.”

He emphasized the importance of the platform in connecting international suppliers with local and regional partners.

“Our guests know this is a unique opportunity to meet hundreds of international food and beverage suppliers looking to build partnerships across West Africa. The last edition of FAB West Africa attracted record-breaking attendance, including visitors from neighboring countries like Ghana, Benin, Togo, Senegal, and Cameroon,” Smith stated.

Lauded NAFDAC’s pivotal role in ensuring the safety and standard of all products on display, Smith said all foods imported for exhibition at FAB West Africa are NAFDAC-approved, adding that the regulatory agency has done an excellent job in making sure unhygienic or substandard food is kept out. He said working with NAFDAC has been one of the best decisions we’ve made—they’ve truly been a backbone for us as organizers.

According to Smith, the show continues to deliver exceptional results, driving new partnerships, business deals, and unmatched networking opportunities.

Some of the exhibitors who made remarks about their participation and the event itself expressed excitement for being part of the three-day exhibition, and commended the organisers for the show that gave them the opportunity to exhibit their products and services to Nigeria and West Africa.

Betsy Riggs, who made remaqrks on behalf of USA pavilion, said they were happy to participate at the exhibition as it gave them the opportunity to show to West Africa through Nigeria their products, adding that it was their second time of participating at the show.

In his remarks, Immanuel Lingga said Nigeria has a huge market with vast opportunities, noting that many countries, including his own, are eager to cultivate the market, exploring avenues for joint ventures with Nigerian companies to expand market access and product penetration, which often involves sharing of production techniques and expertise.

Also, Chirajit Pakrasi of Venus Processing and Packaging, manufactures frozen foods like yam fries and plantains in Nigeria which they export globally, appreciated the exhibition, saying the show is perfect for product demonstration.

Another participant, Seun Ayegbusi, CEO of Financial Technology Firm, Klak, said the exhibitione provides a window to unlock efficiency in streamlining payments for transactions that cut across international boundaries, showcasing how support services contribute to a more sophisticated business environment for local manufacturers.

Other participants include Tropical Sun Foods, Venus Processing and Packaging, AL RHEA General Trading, St. Patrick’s Distillery, ITPC Lagos, Hype Energy and many others.