Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) Saturday, installed Sir Odega Jideonwu as it’s 17Th President, assuring improved economy through reticulation of gas to Enugu, capacity building and collaboration with government and investors.
At a colourful investiture of the new President and Council members held at Bridge Waters ,Enugu, Jideonwo said he will attract critical stakeholders in the Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, production in Nigeria to reticulate Gas to Enugu state, adding that the Chamber is working on attracting low priced fuel for Power generation, as a strong enabler for businesses and manufacturers.
The President also said the Chamber will embark on re-engineering program which will include capacity building of manpower and promotion of commercial agriculture through agro-industrial training and entrepreneurship development.
He said the Chamber hopes to improve the economy in the next two years through engagement with the government on multiple and incessant taxations, while it will work with the government to improve it’s efficiency in providing relevant permits that business require.
He said the Chamber was not leaving any stone unturned in organising a successful trade fair , which is fast approaching.
Jideonwu said members will be assisted to boost their businesses.
“We’ll give value to members by creating linkage between member manufacturers and international markets to boost export. Of great importance due to the time we are in is the promotion of commercial agriculture via agro-industrial training and entrepreneurship development.
“We intend to discuss deeply with all farmers associations in Enugu state and indeed all stakeholders with a view to encouraging small, medium and large holder farmers to form clusters/co-operatives to boost their capacity in cash crop and livestock farming,” he said
The National President of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Otumba Dele Oye in his speech, said there were 71 city chambers that makes NACCIMA the biggest business structure.
“We encourage commerce and industry, we engage with 35 structural Institutes. subsidy removal, inflation, insecurity don’t allow for food production and government has been benefiting the naira fluctuation. We have written to CBN on what to do and we are ready to support them. We pay high interet rates because banks use it to conduct businesses,” Oye said.
Earlier, chairman of the investiture dinner and former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani said Nigeria has nose -dived into hyper inflation such as Venezuela which he said, was at a point the richest country in Latin America.
“But Venezuela didn’t divest in other areas apart from oil. Now it’s one of the poorest countries. ECCIMA makes contribution in the economy and it’s ensuring that productivity is high. The Jideonwos’ have achieved much for themselves and I expect them to do such in ECCIMA,” he said.
Author- Maureen Ikpeama