04/07/2025
Trade Fair – A Great Learning Opportunity
By LESLEY SANGA
Yesterday, I decided to spend at least three hours at the Trade Fair held at the old FOPA Village, despite my busy schedule. As soon as I entered the venue, I could see how colourful and lively the place was.
My main aim was to collect information and learn from what entrepreneurs, business houses, and individuals were showcasing.
I walked from the east to the west end of the venue and learned so many new things.
At the poolside, I listened to a woman giving a presentation about her small business. She was turning ginger and other local raw materials into flavours for cooking. She shared how she uses these natural ingredients to create tasty, healthy options for the kitchen. Her message at the end was simple but powerful: As women, we must never get tired of doing good things. We must work smart.
Next, I visited the Agriculture and Livestock stall. As a farmer, I was really interested in what the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) had on display. As I approached the stall, I saw my former agriculture teacher, Mr. Willie Okekini, smiling inside.
Inside the stall were some machines and a drier. I asked him about them, and he explained that they were used to process animal feeds. He said we can make feed for chickens and pigs using local ingredients like cassava, dried fish, and coconut. These can be mixed and processed using the machines. I was more focused listening to him yesterday than I used to be back in class at KGVI—haha!
This really impressed me, because one of the biggest challenges for farmers like us in remote areas is the cost of animal feed. Mr. Okekini said the machine costs around SBD 30,000. That might be expensive, but it would be a big help if we had one in our communities.
After that, I visited Agness, who processes cocoa into chocolate. I’ve followed her work on social media for a long time, but yesterday I got the chance to meet her in person, taste her product, and hear more about her small business journey.
I continued to explore and learn. Trade Fair was truly a great opportunity for business operators, entrepreneurs, vendors, and customers. Events like this help us share knowledge, promote our products, and learn from one another.
To end, I want to thank everyone who made this event happen. For me, it was a real opportunity to learn. I enjoyed walking around, asking questions, and hearing directly from the people behind these businesses.
Big thanks to the two powerful MCs—Owen Talo, Brandaman Yaba—and my sister Sherry Komasi. You all did an outstanding job. Also to brother Simon Chottu for leading such a great event. I know it’s never easy to organise something like this—people will always have something to say. But with strong commitment and heart, you made it happen.
Lastly, thank you to all the sponsors for believing in this idea. We need more of this kind of event in our country.
