NACCIMA chieftains brainstorm in PH on how to save businesses in raging recession
• PHCCIMA boss; Lets act now to avert crisis • Gov Wike: Rivers now safe for businesses • NACCIMA boss; We are Nigerians known for resilience
Strategies to shield businesses from further harm in the raging recession dominated the thinking in Port Harcourt where the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) held its 4th quarter council meeting. It was also the ceremonial cutting of the 60 years anniversary cake of the body.
Despite the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, ENDSARS ruins and raging recession, the NACCIMA chose the Port Harcourt City Chamber (PHCCIMA) led by hardworking and effective commander, Nabil Saleh, a chief, to anchor the huge gathering.
For four days therefore, Port Harcourt was agog as the city chamber anchored the event for the NACCIMA Exco and other city chambers in the country which also executed its ‘Need-based Charity Donations’ programmes in grand style.
In his speech, the PHCCIMA president expressed delight in hosting the national president, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu, National Exco and all national and states’ delegates to this national quarterly council meeting of NACCIMA. He also expressed gratitude for the
choice of Port Harcourt for the dinner party and official cake cutting of the 60th Anniversary cake. According to him, this is a very challenging time for the association and businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the entire global economy and driven our nation to a recession.
Saleh said; “The negative effects of the pandemic on our businesses are glaring and from the indexes provided by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) this may worsen if not tackled. This meeting, therefore, is very apt, as business leaders we must proffer solutions to these challenges as our contribution to rescue
our businesses and the national economy from total collapse”.
The National President of NACCIMA, Saratu Iya Aliyu, in her remark commended the Rivers State Governor for giving enormous support to the body. Aliyu said the governor’s goodwill was a reflection of his administration’s immense support to the private sector in the state during the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic. The NACCIMA president noted that the body would continue to seek sustenance of a safe business environment in the state.
She said: “As you are aware, NACCIMA is the ‘Voice of Nigerian Business’.our membership cuts across all sectors of the
economy. The Association is the umbrella organization of City, State, Bilateral and Regional Chambers of Commerce including Business and Professional Associations in Nigeria.
“As a collective, we continue to champion the call for the sustenance of an ideal business environment through policy advocacy and influence. Indeed, these are challenging times, but these are auspicious times as well.
“We are Nigerians, worldrenowned for our resilience and innovative thinking. I, therefore, charge all members and guests here to strengthen collaborations that efficiently mobilize private sector stakeholders, and develop robust programmes to ensure that the private sector can effectively function in the current reality.”
Gov Nyesom Wike while making his remark stated that his administration has created a safe environment for businesses to thrive in the state, adding that the state was now very safe for investors.
Wike, who was represented by his deputy, Ipalibo Gogo Banigo PHD, said that the state has created a conducive atmosphere for businesses to move, urging investors to leverage on the opportunities created to invest in the state. He expressed happiness that the programme to mark the body’s diamond jubilee held in the state, adding that his administration would do more to encourage investments.
Background:
It will be recalled that 60 years ago, a group of visionary leaders deemed it necessary to create a national Chamber Movement as a platform for consultation and joint action on behalf of the private sector, and so the Association of Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria and Southern Cameroun was created. The Association subsequently evolved to become the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry Mines, and Agriculture commonly known as NACCIMA.
The membership of the Association is said to have grown from six in 1960 to 51 in 2020, encompassing City, State, and Bilateral Chambers of Commerce, as well as, Business Associations.