NPPAN President to lead General Assembly of world oil palm coalition

News In Brief:

— Nigeria's palm produce association president, Dr Inyang, has been elected Chairman of the General Assembly of the WCOPS.

— He pledged to represent Africa effectively and ensure that the interests of smallholders receive adequate attention.

The president of Nigeria’s National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Dr Alphonsus Inyang, has been elected the Chairman of the General Assembly of the World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders (WCOPS).

Dr Inyang revealed that he was unanimously elected at the International Oil Palm Smallholders Forum in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, attended by more than 400 delegates.

Inyang explained that his election to the WCOPS general assembly will strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global oil palm sector. The international organisation comprises 12 farmer organisations across seven producing countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana, Thailand, Côte d'Ivoire, and Honduras.

WCOPS New Leadership

WCOPS' mandate is to promote the interests of smallholder farmers worldwide. The members elected Dr Gulat Manurung of Indonesia as President.

Other new leaders that were appointed include Dr Napoleon Ningkos of Malaysia as Vice President for Asia and Europe; Mr Tuan Haji Azimi Bin Hassan of Malaysia as Vice President for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania; Mr Allan of Honduras as Vice President for the Americas; Dr Alphonsus Inyang doubles as the Vice President for Africa and the Middle East.

Dr Djono Albar Burhan of Indonesia was elected Executive Director, while Dr Paul Amaning of Ghana was appointed Director of Digitalisation and Innovation.

According to Inyang, over 400 delegates drawn from CPOPC, RSPO, SOLIDARIDAD, Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), and others participated in the election and resolved to unanimously protect the rights and interests of more than 50 million oil palm smallholders globally.

Inyang, Nigeria’s Oil Palm treasure

Dr Inyang is an international resource person on oil palm and CEO of Hebron Group. He has served as the president of NPPAN for several years, advocating for the development of the oil palm sector and championing the rights and interests of smallholder palm oil producers in the country. 

In a recent interview with the Junction, he criticised the government’s decision to reduce import tariffs on Crude Palm Oil (CPO). He warned that the policy could lead millions of smallholder farmers into bankruptcy and abandon the business.

Inyang is also the Vice Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy (2026–2050), Focal Person of CPOPC in Nigeria, and leader of the National Engagement Group on Palm Biomass Valorisation.