Amb. Alphonsus Inyang, President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), has been elected Chairman of the General Assembly of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders (WCOPS).
Inyang disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said the election took place at the International Oil Palm Smallholders Forum in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, which attracted more than 400 delegates.
According to him, the General Assembly is the coalition’s highest decision-making organ, and his election provides an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s representation in the global oil palm industry.
Other officials elected include Dr Gulat Manurung of Indonesia as president; Dr Napoleon Ningkos and Mr Tuan Hassan of Malaysia as vice presidents; and Mr Allan of Honduras as vice president for the Americas.
Dr Djono Albar Burhan of Indonesia was elected executive director, while Dr Paul Amaning of Ghana became director of digitalisation and innovation.
Inyang, who also serves as WCOPS vice president for Africa and the Middle East and Nigeria’s focal person for the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries, said the coalition was established with support from Indonesia and Malaysia, among others.
He added that WCOPS, supported by organisations including Solidaridad and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, was committed to advancing the interests of smallholders.
Participants at the forum resolved to protect the rights and interests of more than 50 million oil palm smallholders worldwide.
Inyang pledged to ensure that African producers’ interests received adequate attention within the coalition.
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