Joseph Bakare
President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to commission the legacy projects of Abuja Chamber of Commerce to demonstrate the support of his administration for the private sector.
This was disclosed at the annual AGM of the chamber held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The ACCI president ,Prince Adetokunbo Kayode who made the disclosure cited communication between the Presidency and the Chamber leadership.
The legacy projects include a six story ultra modern secretariat of the ACCI along Abuja airport road and a huge well furnished newly completed Abuja Trade and Convention Centre.
Meanwhile, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry during her Annual General Meeting, AGM, elected new Vice Presidents and Council members.
The AGM presided over by the President of ACCI,Prince Adetokunbo Kayode was preceded by Council and executive meetings,the last for the year.
The President in his main address listed the many advances recorded by the Chamber in the last one year including :
The completion of legacy projects like the six story ACCI secretariat and the ultra modern trade and convention centre to be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, The listing of ACCI as a Grade A federal chamber alongside Lagos Chamber with only two Chambers with such recognition across Nigeria, The signing of cooperation MOUs with many state Chambers of commerce as a recognition of ACCI as the only federal chamber in the country, The emergence of ACCI as within number five worldwide at a skill programme competition organised by the International Chamber of Commerce in Brazil, The organisation of many policy impacting programmes,roundtables and workshops by the Chamber that improves its visibility and The increasing recognition of the chamber by local and international organizations as a credible platform for trade facilitation and private sector engagement in Nigeria among others.
The President specifically commended the leadership of the four ACCI centres (PAC,BEST,DRC and ATC),showering encomiums on Professor Soji Adesugba(the Provost of BEST Centre,Olawale Rasheed (the Coordinator of Policy Advocacy Centre ),Chief Emeka Obegbolu (Chair of DRC board) among others.
He lauded the roles of other directors such as Aisha Ado of Dispute Resolution Centre,Vikki k of Best Centre,assuring that efforts are on to ensure that the centres are sustainable.
Kayode informed the AGM that the four centres of the ACCI listed above are soon to be adopted by the NACCIMA to serve as national centres for business Chambers all over the country.
Election was subsequently conducted to fill vacant positions alongside a rejigging of the offices.
Those elected or who swapped offices are as follows :
Dr. Somadine Anene Johnson for Vice President Mines ;Chief Jude Igwe for Vice President Industry;Mrs. Rose Nwosu for Vice President Women Development;Prof. Adesoji Adesugba for Vice President,Technology, Skills & Digital Economy;Dr. Sijuade Kayode Vice President Commerce ;Alhaji Usman Balarabe Vice President Finance;Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong,Vice President Strategy /External Relations;Olawale Rasheed Council Member and PAC Coordinator and Bode Thompson Council member.