A Nigerian has been elected to lead the General Assembly of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders, giving the country a key position in an organisation representing more than 50 million smallholder farmers globally.
President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria, Amb. Inyang, was unanimously elected Chairman of the General Assembly, the highest decision-making organ of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders.
Inyang, who previously served as the coalition’s Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, emerged alongside Dr Gulat Manurung of Indonesia, who was elected President.
Other officials elected were Dr Napoleon Ningkos of Malaysia, Vice President for Asia and Europe; Mr Tuan Haji Azimi Bin Hassan of Malaysia, Vice President for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania; and Mr Allan of Honduras, Vice President for the Americas.
Dr Djono Albar Burhan of Indonesia was elected Executive Director, while Dr Paul Amaning of Ghana was appointed Director of Digitalisation and Innovation.
The elections took place during the International Oil Palm Smallholders Forum in East Kalimantan, Indonesia’s new capital city, where about 400 delegates from around the world attended the coalition’s General Meeting.
The coalition was established by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries and is supported by the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia, Solidaridad, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and major global oil palm producers.
Its mandate includes promoting and protecting the interests of oil palm smallholders worldwide.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of the CPOPC, RSPO, Solidaridad, Indonesia Palm Oil Association, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysian Palm Oil Council and Indonesia Oil Palm Plantations Fund Management Agency, as well as officials of the Indonesian and Malaysian governments.
The delegates resolved to strengthen efforts to protect the rights and interests of more than 50 million oil palm smallholders globally.
Inyang pledged to use his new position to strengthen Africa’s voice in the coalition and ensure that the interests of the continent’s smallholders receive adequate attention.
He is also Vice Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy 2026–2050 and the focal person of the CPOPC in Nigeria.
Inyang also leads the National Engagement Group on Palm Biomass Valorisation and has participated as an international resource person and speaker at several oil palm industry events.
The development is expected to give Nigeria a stronger voice in global discussions on oil palm production, smallholder welfare and the future of the industry.
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