We are proud to announce that Dr. Ebiekure Jasper Eradiri, President of the All Africa Association for Small & Medium Enterprises (AAASME), has been invited as a Special Guest speaker at the upcoming African Agricultural Investment Summit, a side event to the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event will takes on September 26, 2025, at Lagos TSQ, 727 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10019 (USA), starting at 3 pm (NYC time), under the theme “Empowering African Youths Through Agricultural Investment Cooperatives.”
A Leader with Vision and Commitment to SMEs
Dr. Eradiri brings a rich background of professional achievement and pan-African advocacy to this role. A chemical engineer by training, he has over the years built a reputation as a consultant in MSME development, entrepreneurship, and institutional strengthening.
Before becoming President of AAASME, he served as Secretary General and interim Administrator, and he previously led Nigeria’s Bayelsa State Microfinance & Enterprise Development Agency. His leadership in the SME space is rooted in a belief in cooperation, collaboration, communication, and coordination as pillars for continental development. Tribune Online
With these credentials, Dr. Eradiri’s invitation to speak at a UN side event underscores both his individual standing and the growing relevance of African SMEs in discussions around continental development.
Why This Summit Matters
The African Agricultural Investment Summit being held in New York alongside the UNGA offers a strategic platform to spotlight agriculture as a critical sector for youth empowerment, food security, and sustainable development.
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By focusing on youth-led agricultural investment cooperatives, the summit aims to catalyze models that combine entrepreneurship, collaboration, and access to capital.
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It’s a relevant forum for promoting continental policies and partnerships that can scale agribusiness ventures led by young Africans.
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As a side event to the UNGA, the summit will attract global development stakeholders, investors, policymakers, and advocates — offering visibility and leverage for African agribusiness agendas.
GSAI (Growth for Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) is organizing the event. Social media posts confirm Dr. Eradiri’s participation as a keynote or featured speaker.
Why This Is a Milestone for AAASME
Having the AAASME President speak at such a high-profile UN side event amplifies our voice on the global stage. It helps reposition African SMEs—not just as beneficiaries, but as key partners in shaping the continent’s agricultural renaissance. It also opens doors for AAASME to forge new alliances, attract funding interest, and deepen its role as a convener between youth, agriculture, and investment.
We congratulate Dr. Eradiri on this honor, and we encourage all members, partners, and friends of AAASME to follow the proceedings, engage in the conversation, and push forward our shared vision: a resilient, youth-driven, agriculturally empowered Africa.
