Representing the Agro sector of the Nigerian Economy at the fair is none other than ALIYU ABBATI ABDULHAMEED, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
NIRSAL was launched as an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2011 as a dynamic, holistic USD$500 Million public-private venture. It aimed to define, measure, price and share agribusiness, related to credit risk. Then, when NIRSAL was just a Project Office under the Development Finance Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Aliyu was appointed to serve as one of the Executive Team Members of the group.
NIRSAL became a separate entity, when it was incorporated in 2013 as a Non-Bank Financial Institution with the primary mandate of facilitating the flow of credit to agribusiness value chain players, and collaborating with stakeholders to fix broken agriculture value chains in Nigeria. On 23rd December 2015, Mr Aliyu A. Abdulhameed was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, NIRSAL.
With a blend of technical competence, result focused leadership and passionate advocacy, he has energised NIRSAL and enabled the company to achieve critical initial milestones, providing a strong foundation for realising NIRSAL’s unique vision of transforming the agricultural sector through de-risking the agricultural value chain.
Under his watch, NIRSAL has attracted the goodwill and attention of respected global players in the agriculture sector. Including African Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and other African countries like Rwanda, Liberia etc.
He holds a Bachelors degree in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. As well as, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (with specialisation in Public Policy) from the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). His focus was on the organic link between food security and national security. He also holds an Executive Masters Certificate in Project Management from the Project Management College (UK). He has attended many local and international training, and seminars on agriculture financing, leadership and management.
Before his time with NIRSAL, he was a staff of Kewalrams Afcot Group, pioneering backward integrators in the Cotton Textile Garment (CTG) value chain. He was also part of the team that was instrumental in the creation of Olam, the number one global commodity trader, which links end to end value chains from primary production to industrial users of globally traded Agric. Commodities. As an entrepreneur, Abdulhameed also acquired practical experience in the provision of agricultural products and related services to a wide variety of clients.
Mr Aliyu A. Abdulhameed has over 22 years practical career experience in the vital sectors of the emerging African agriculture economy. So, if you are into agriculture manufacturing and processing as an SME, this is one speaker you need to hear. Ensure you are registered to attend the Connect Nigeria e-Business Fair this Saturday, 3rd February 2018 by 9 am at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos. Attendance is Free!
For sponsorship, exhibition, or registration details, visit
www.connectnigeria.com/bizfair or call 0700 800 5000.
