African Stakeholders Join Global Industry Specialists at World of Asphalt Show, Conference in Tennessee, U.S

Bennett Oghifo

Nigeria and Africa’s professional stakeholders are fully poised as the World of Asphalt Show & Conference and the co-located AGG1 Academy & Expo, held at the Nashville Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, scheduled for March 25-27, 2024, is around the corner.

Nigeria’s engineers, asphalt manufacturing companies, National Road Transport Owners Association, NARTOA, the Nigerian Institution of Highway and Transportation Engineers, NUPENG, Contractors, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Federal/State Ministries of Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Development, NBBRI, Researchers and Public Works Agencies are all set to attend.

According to World of Asphalt Show Director Brittany Schmidtke, “With more than 400 exhibitors and more than 200,000 square feet of exhibits, the 2024 show is expected to be among the biggest in its history. This year’s event will bring the asphalt and aggregates industries together again to showcase the latest products and innovations all in one place.”

“Additionally, we are expanding this year’s show to include more networking and educational opportunities than were available at the record-breaking previous show,” he added.

For the ultimate World of Asphalt and AGG1 experience, attendees are encouraged to opt for the All-Access badge, granting daily entry to both World of Asphalt and AGG1, along with access to up to 10 concurrent education sessions. Education topics include people, plants, paving, pavement preservation and environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S).

More than 400 exhibitors within just three days are expected to explore everything. Attendees are consequently encouraged to organize their schedule for World of Asphalt and AGG1 ahead of their arrival in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 2024 AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo will foster a unique environment of professional networking along with the latest in industry education,” said Michael Johnson, President &

CEO of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA).

“Everyone should have AGG1 on their calendars, since the show creates the largest annual gathering of industry producers and those in the manufacturing and services space,” he noted.

Attendees will be able to download the World of Asphalt & AGG1 mobile app prior to the event after registering. The app will seamlessly connect with the online show planner, offering show maps and real-time notifications.

“This World of Asphalt is poised to be the most crucial one yet with all the advancements going on in the asphalt pavement industry,” said Dr. Audrey Copeland, President and CEO of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), co-owner of the show.

His words: “That’s why we’re offering asphalt paving professionals and business owners in the industry more to see and learn than ever before.” The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), is the only trade association in the United States that exclusively represents the interests of the asphalt producer/contractor on the national level with Congress, government agencies, and other national trade and business organizations.

World of Asphalt, held every year, is the leading trade show and conference focused on the asphalt and paving industries, whose most recent edition was recognized by Trade Show Executive as one of the “Fastest 50” growing trade shows. The show features the best education, and latest equipment, products, services and technologies for the asphalt and paving industries.

The Show is co-located with AGG1 Academy & Expo (AGG1), the aggregates industry’s leading exposition and education resource. AGG1 features in-depth industry-focused educational programming and comprehensive exhibits that showcase the latest technologies and innovations in aggregates-related equipment, products and services.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide.

The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.3 million jobs and contributes roughly $316 billion to the economy every year.

AEM has worked closely with Niche PR, a dynamic Public Relations & Event Management Company in Nigeria for more than 15 years in promoting and encouraging industry practitioners to leverage the benefits of knowledge exchange and business networking at the Show for economy growth and development.

Mrs. Marcella Iyitor, the Lead Consultant and Chief Executive of Niche PR said that the 2024 edition is unique on several fronts for Nigeria.

According to Mrs. Iyitor, “For the first time, our company was assigned to recruit participation not only from Nigeria but also from all African countries based on how well we have worked with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, AEM, over the years, and how important the Nigeria business space is to the global market.”

Stressing that with more than 400 exhibitors and just three days to explore everything, Mrs. Iyitor encourages attendees to organize their schedule for World of Asphalt and AGG1 ahead of their arrival in Nashville, Tennessee or interface with Niche PR, Lagos, for specific guidance.

The generated interest of stakeholders on the uniform adoption of concrete road pavement policy and the suitability of Flexible and Rigid Pavements in the road sector will also be thrown up for discussion at the sideline meetings.

Further, according to the Niche PR boss, “Invitations have been extended to the National Assembly Senate and House Committees on Works and FERMA for discussions with their counterparts in other countries for knowledge exchange and/or capacity building on bringing down the cost of road execution to boost socio-economic development.”

She also stated that, “Also, the Nigeria National Pavement Association led by the Chairman of the Board, Engr, Thomas Eyo, Director of Research, FERMA (rtd.), will be joining the delegation to World of Asphalt 2024.”