The World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders (WCOPS) has elected Ambassador Inyang, President of the National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), as Chairman of its General Assembly. The election took place during the International Oil Palm Smallholders Forum in Indonesia's new capital city, East Kalimantan. WCOPS is a global organization that promotes the interests of smallholders worldwide.
WCOPS was formed by the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) and is supported by governments and organizations, including those from Indonesia and Malaysia, Solidaridad, and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The coalition aims to represent the interests of over 50 million smallholders globally. The organization held its General Meeting with high-level participation from CPOPC, RSPO, and other industry stakeholders.
Ambassador Inyang was previously the Vice President for Africa and the Middle East of WCOPS. He was elected alongside other key officials, including Dr. Gulat Manurung of Indonesia as President and Dr. Napoleon Ningkos of Malaysia as Vice President for Asia and Europe. The new Executive Director is Dr. Djono Albar Burhan of Indonesia, and Dr. Paul Amaning of Ghana was appointed Director of Digitalisation and Innovation.
The International Oil Palm Smallholders Forum attracted around 400 delegates from across the globe. The meeting demonstrated a unified resolve to fight for the rights and interests of smallholders. Ambassador Inyang has been a champion for smallholders' rights and interests, and his election as Chairman of the General Assembly reflects his expertise and experience in the sector.
Ambassador Inyang holds multiple roles, including Vice Chairman of the Technical Working Group for the Nigerian Oil Palm Development Strategy (2026–2050) and Focal Person of CPOPC in Nigeria. He is also an international resource person on oil palm and has spoken at various international oil palm events. His appointment is expected to bring attention to the interests of African oil palm smallholders.
In his new role, Ambassador Inyang has pledged to represent Africa effectively in the coalition. He aims to ensure that the interests of the continent's oil palm smallholders receive adequate attention. With his leadership, WCOPS is expected to strengthen its advocacy for smallholders' rights and interests globally.
The World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders will continue to work towards promoting sustainable palm oil production and protecting the interests of smallholders. With Ambassador Inyang at the helm, the organization is poised to make a significant impact in the industry.
Key points
- Ambassador Inyang elected Chairman of World Coalition of Oil Palm Smallholders
- WCOPS aims to promote interests of over 50 million smallholders globally
- Ambassador Inyang pledges to represent Africa effectively in the coalition
