Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Lagos State, 19-26 November 2024
UNIDO ITPO Germany organized a delegation visit from Europe and Malaysia to Nigeria in order to strengthen sustainability and industrialization in the palm oil sector. The delegation was comprised of nine specialized companies from Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Malaysia and Nigeria that cover the whole value chain of the palm oil sector including seedlings, biomass utilization (old trunks to furniture), waste management, industrialization of palm wine and spirits, refining technology, palm oil mills, pumps and plant engineering as well as packaging solutions. In Nigeria’s South-South region, the delegation met with State Governors, private sector stakeholders, small-scale farmer associations, financing partners and hosted three dedicated networking events. Furthermore, site visits to production facilities such as refineries, plantations and palm oil mills were conducted.
Field Trip to Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State
The delegation trip started with a visit to Cross River State which is among the largest producers of palm oil in the country. The delegation was welcomed by UNIDO ITPO Germany’s local partner NPPAN (National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria) and the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development of Cross River State. The group visited two large-scale plantations and mills in the state (JB Farms and Wilmar), a largescale vegetable oil refinery in Adiabo and hosted a networking reception with 50 participants from the private and public sector from Cross River State in order to connect the local stakeholders to the delegation.
In Akwa Ibom State, the group visited a plantation and a small mill, currently owned by the state government and subject to a revival. Furthermore, UNIDO ITPO Germany hosted a networking reception with over 60 participants to discuss potential projects with the UNIDO delegation. After the event, the group visited a local small-holder farm and a palm kernel mill and met with the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, H.E. Pastor Umo Eno. Following the meeting with the Governor, the group was invited to visit St. Gabriel Coconut Oil Factory in Mkpat Enin, which is developed by the state government of Akwa Ibom as the largest coconut oil refinery in Africa.
Visit to Lagos State
In Lagos, the delegation visited the Lagos Free Zone and the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which started operations in 2023, is managed by Tolaram Group, and is now handling over 25% of Nigeria’s imports. Tolaram also owns large-scale oil palm and cassava plantations. The group also visited a large edible oil refinery and a flexible packaging facility situated in the Free Zone. The following day, UNIDO ITPO Germany hosted its major event of the mission in Lagos. Over 50 large-scale plantation owners and 6 financing institutions were invited in order to connect with the delegation and discuss possible cooperation. The event showcased the tremendous potential for the sector, especially through triangle cooperation between local stakeholders, European companies and financing institutions.
