News

GOVERNOR MUTFWANG OPENS 11TH JOS NATIONAL TRADE FAIR, TARGETS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH FOR PLATEAU

Published

1 day ago

October 29, 2026

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The Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, officially declared open the 11th Jos National Trade Fair at the Polo Field, Jos, with a renewed commitment to positioning Plateau State as a leading centre for agricultural processing, industrial development and investment in Nigeria.

The trade fair, organised by the Plateau State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PLACCIMA) in collaboration with the Plateau State Government, is themed “Harnessing Agricultural and Livestock Value Chains for Food Security, Job Creation and Shared Prosperity.”

The event brought together business owners, farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, investors, exhibitors and other stakeholders from within and outside Nigeria to showcase products, explore investment opportunities, strengthen business partnerships and promote economic development.

GOVERNOR MUTFWANG UNVEILS PLATEAU’S INDUSTRIAL AMBITION

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Governor Mutfwang expressed optimism about the economic future of Plateau State, revealing his administration’s ambition to transform the state into a major industrial processing hub within the next two to three years.

The Governor highlighted the importance of infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, livestock production and industrial revival in restoring Plateau’s commercial strength and creating sustainable economic opportunities for its people.

He also disclosed that his recent trip to China had resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese investors interested in establishing an industrial park in Plateau State.

According to the Governor, the proposed investment is part of the broader efforts to attract investors, strengthen local industries and create an environment where agricultural produce can be processed into finished and marketable products.

The initiative is expected to support value addition, stimulate economic activities and create employment opportunities for the growing population, particularly young people.

HARNESSING AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK FOR SHARED PROSPERITY

The theme of the 11th National Trade Fair underscores the importance of moving beyond primary agricultural production to developing a complete value chain that connects farmers and livestock producers with processors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers.

Plateau State possesses considerable potential in crop production, livestock farming and agro-processing. Harnessing these opportunities effectively could strengthen food security, reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ incomes and create employment across different sectors.

The fair provides a platform for stakeholders to explore partnerships, showcase innovations, discover new markets and identify opportunities for investment in agriculture, livestock, mining, manufacturing and other industries.

COMMISSIONER ASHOMS CALLS FOR GREATER PARTICIPATION

The Plateau State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, has described the 2026 edition as a unique opportunity for residents, entrepreneurs and investors to expand their business horizons.

He encouraged Plateau residents to patronise exhibitors, explore new products and take advantage of the commercial opportunities available at the fair.

Ashoms also highlighted the potential of the state’s livestock value chain, including the planned ultra-modern abattoir around Heipang, which is expected to create opportunities for livestock producers, traders, processors and other businesses.

He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to promoting business activities and encouraged residents not to miss the opportunities presented by the event.

The Commissioner also expressed appreciation to the exhibitors, PLACCIMA, the Plateau State Government and the media for their contributions to the trade fair.

PLACCIMA AND ORGANISERS PROMOTE BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

The trade fair, organised by PLACCIMA in collaboration with the Plateau State Government, is designed to strengthen commercial relationships and provide businesses with access to customers, partners and potential investors.

The organisers have emphasised the importance of connecting agricultural production with processing, marketing and distribution, ensuring that more economic benefits reach farmers, entrepreneurs and communities.

The event also features exhibitions across several sectors, including agriculture, livestock, mining, manufacturing and Nigerian-made products, alongside entertainment and family-oriented activities.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT IN PLATEAU

The official opening of the 11th Jos National Trade Fair represents an opportunity to renew confidence in Plateau State’s commercial potential and encourage stronger collaboration between government, the private sector and local businesses.

Beyond the exhibitions, the real measure of success will be the partnerships established, investments attracted, jobs created and lasting economic benefits generated for the people.

As Plateau State pursues its ambition of becoming a major industrial processing hub, stakeholders will need to sustain the momentum by investing in infrastructure, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, improving access to finance, strengthening agricultural value chains and creating a business environment that encourages innovation.

For farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and investors, the message is clear: the future of Plateau’s economy depends not only on the resources it possesses but also on how effectively those resources are developed, processed and transformed into sustainable wealth.

The 11th Jos National Trade Fair therefore stands as a platform for promoting enterprise, attracting investment and advancing the vision of food security, job creation and shared prosperity across Plateau State and Nigeria.

📍 Venue: Polo Field, Jos, Plateau State

📅 Official Opening: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

🎪 Event: 11th Jos National Trade Fair

🎯 Theme: Harnessing Agricultural and Livestock Value Chains for Food Security, Job Creation and Shared Prosperity.

#JosEvents #JosNationalTradeFair #PlateauState #GovernorMutfwang #PLACCIMA #Agriculture #Livestock #BusinessAndInvestment #SharedProsperity

Related Topics:11th Fair Governor growth Industrial Jos Mutfwang national opens plateau targets Trade

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Business

NIA Chairman Engages Technical Committee Leadership, Calls for Proactive Industry Advocacy

Published

26 minutes ago

October 30, 2026

PlateauReports

PRESS RELEASE—The Chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, has charged the Association’s Technical Committees to strengthen their contributions to industry development through proactive engagement, strategic recommendations and effective collaboration in addressing emerging challenges in the insurance sector.

Mrs. Nwachukwu gave the charge during a breakfast meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of the Association’s Technical Committees on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

The meeting provided an interactive platform for the NIA leadership and representatives of the Technical Committees to assess their activities, identify areas for improvement and explore strategies for enhancing their effectiveness and contributions to the growth of the Association and the Nigerian insurance industry.

Speaking at the engagement, Mrs. Nwachukwu commended the Technical Committees for their invaluable contributions to the Association’s activities and the development of the insurance industry over the years.

She, however, challenged them to demonstrate greater commitment, innovation and responsiveness in discharging their responsibilities, stressing that their expertise and recommendations remain critical to the Association’s strategic direction and industry advocacy initiatives.

According to her, the NIA Governing Council places significant expectations on the Technical Committees, particularly in providing informed recommendations that serve as the foundation for Council decisions on market conduct guidelines, regulatory policies and other critical industry matters.

The Chairman emphasised the need for the insurance industry to move beyond reactive responses to emerging issues and assume a more proactive role in shaping national economic conversations and policies.

“As insurers, we must not be reactive but proactive in driving conversations around policies and developments affecting the economy and its various sectors. As risk bearers, we have a critical role to play in providing insights and solutions that promote economic stability and resilience.

“The NIA must become stronger and more influential in advancing the collective interests of the insurance industry. To achieve this, our Technical Committees must be at the forefront of driving meaningful engagements, developing practical solutions and providing strategic recommendations that will strengthen the industry,” she stated.

Mrs. Nwachukwu further underscored the importance of collaboration, knowledge-sharing and timely responses to industry developments, urging the Committees to leverage their collective expertise to address emerging risks, regulatory challenges and opportunities for sustainable growth.

She noted that the effectiveness of the Technical Committees would significantly influence the Association’s ability to champion industry reforms, strengthen stakeholder confidence and contribute meaningfully to national economic development.

In her welcome address, the Director-General of NIA, Mrs. Bola Odukale, expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the Technical Committees for their unwavering commitment, professional contributions and continued support to the NIA Secretariat and the insurance industry.
Mrs. Odukale reiterated the Secretariat’s commitment to strengthening its working relationship with the Committees and providing the necessary institutional support to enhance their operational effectiveness and delivery of their mandates.

The Director-General assured the Committee leadership of the Association’s readiness to facilitate greater coordination, improve communication channels and promote timely consideration of technical recommendations to ensure that their contributions translate into measurable outcomes for the industry.

The NIA Technical Committees represented at the engagement cut across major areas of insurance operations and industry administration. They include the Accident Offices Committee; Accounting Technical Committee; Claims Management Committee; Corporate Affairs Committee; Energy and Special Risks Technical Committee; Fire Offices Committee; Human Capital Management Committee; Information Technology Committee; Legal Committee; Life Offices Committee; Marine Offices Committee; Microinsurance Committee; Motor Technical Committee; Risks, Audit and Compliance Committee; Agricultural Insurance Committee; and Reinsurance Committee.

The breakfast meeting underscored the NIA leadership’s commitment to fostering stronger institutional collaboration, promoting proactive industry advocacy and repositioning the Technical Committees as strategic drivers of innovation, regulatory engagement and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s insurance industry.

The post NIA Chairman Engages Technical Committee Leadership, Calls for Proactive Industry Advocacy appeared first on Business Today NG.

News

Waymo taps Toyota to supply robotaxis for Japan and the U.K.

Published

30 minutes ago

October 30, 2026

PlateauReports

Waymo will begin testing autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles in Japan next year as part of a broader partnership with the automaker to provide electric vehicles for robotaxi operations in international markets, including the U.K.

Under the partnership announced Friday, Toyota will manufacture the 2027 bZ4X vehicles and integrate Waymo’s self-driving system at its Takaoka factory in Japan. (The electric vehicle is now known as the BZ in the North American market)

The autonomous bZ4X vehicles will initially be tested in Japan, where Waymo intends to eventually operate a robotaxi service. But the intent is to deploy these vehicles in other right-hand driving countries such as the U.K. Waymo has been testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for months and plans to launch a robotaxi service there once it receives the necessary permits.

The announcement comes 18 months after Toyota and Waymo signed a preliminary agreement to explore the development and deployment of an autonomous vehicle platform. At the time, the agreement fell into the “let’s see what happens” category, with language vague enough to leave plenty of room for interpretation.

For now, the partnership looks more like a conventional vehicle supplier deal that helps Waymo fill specific regional needs while adding a new model to its robotaxi portfolio.

But the partnership could go beyond robotaxis. The companies said they will continue to look at bringing Waymo’s autonomous technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles.

Toyota and Waymo also announced plans to look at other future “initiatives” that would use “insights from Waymo’s real-world operations” to improve safety for other road users. What that might mean is unclear, although Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president of Toyota and a board member, provided some clues.

“This collaboration will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo’s ride-hailing service, and in parallel, Toyota will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make those roads safer still,” he said in a statement.

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