The Nigerian agricultural community mourns the passing of Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group and a respected figure who dedicated his life to the advancement of the agriculture sector.
Mr. Ijewere died on Thursday, December 28th, 2023, at the age of 77.
Born on October 30, 1946, in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau State, Mr. Ijewere’s journey began with a passion for numbers. He honed his skills as an accountant, studying in Lagos, Ijebu-Ode, Cameroon, and the United Kingdom. In 1979, he established Ijewere & Co., a pioneering indigenous accountancy firm that became a pillar of the Nigerian financial landscape.
Mr. Ijewere’s leadership extended far beyond the realm of finance. He served as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Institute of Directors (IOD), and the Nigerian Red Cross.
His vision for a thriving agricultural sector led him to chair the Agriculture and Food Security Commission and the Modified Value Added Tax Committee. He was a member of the National Economic Forum, the International Investment Council (HIIC), and the Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council (ATIC) under former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Ijewere was the President of the Nigerian Agribusiness Group (NABG), the umbrella organization for agribusiness in Nigeria.
His vast contributions and unwavering commitment to the sector earned him the respect and admiration of his peers. He will be dearly missed by his family, colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched through his work.