Pomp, Pageantry in Aba as Udeagbala Takes over NACCIMA Presidency

In Aba, Abia State, it was celebration galore as Harvard trained industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of J. Udeagbala Holdings Nigeria Limited, Ide John Udeagbala was inaugurated as the 21st President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Steel, Chiamaka Ozulumba reports

Harvard trained industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of J. Udeagbala Holdings Nigeria Limited, Ide John Udeagbala was recently inaugurated as the 21st President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Steel (NACCIMA).

He took over from Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu who successfully managed the affairs of the 60 years association in the last two years, while Otunba Dele Oye, reigned as the second National Deputy President.

Udeagbala is a strong corporate player who acquired expertise and experience relevant to Corporate Management & Governance. He is a strategic thinker, planner who possesses leadership skills, with proficiency in engagement, collaboration and consultation.

An astute administrator, with an uncommon understanding and appreciation of the broader policy contexts of the delivery and planning of top management functions, his high levels of performance in his various fields of endeavour has placed him in good stead for referencing. He is an economic nationalist, who reflects a high degree of integrity and standing in the community, with demonstrated values of acting in good faith, and in the best interests of the society.

The 21st President of NACCIMA is an alumnus of the Harvard University School of Business Administration, USA, having successfully completed the Advanced Management Programme (1997).

His is a holding name for an indigenous conglomerate comprising six subsidiaries that operate as independent enterprises, namely: Beauty Base Limited, Kitchen Vegetable Oil Ltd, Quality Pipes Industries Ltd, Dynamic Solvent Extraction Co. Ltd, Dynamic Farms Ltd, and J. Udeagbala and Sons Ltd.

He won the National Productivity Merit Award (NPOM), in the Business Productivity category, in 1996.

In the economic space, under which manufacturing industries operate in Nigeria, his quest for excellence earned one of his subsidiaries an award by the Central Bank of Nigeria as the Best SMEIS, 2008. He has also won the Excellence Award by the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), 2015.

He has served on the board of several government establishments, and of some organised private sector enterprises.

He was on the board of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) from 2009 – 2015; he was on the board of Raw Materials Research And Development Council from 2005 – 2007; he was a member of the Inter- Ministerial Committee Of Federal Government on the Influx of Foreign Goods into Nigeria 2006; Chairman, Abia State Environmental and Sanitation Committee from 2003 – 2007.

He currently serves on several boards – Board Member, Nigeria Customs Service; Commissioner, Tax Appeal Tribunal – South East Zone; Director, Landmark Finance & Investment Co.Ltd; and Director, Quality Ceramics Industries Akwa Ibom State.

He is a past president of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and Past President of the South-East Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA).

In the traditional sphere, he is a member of Obi-in-Council, an Ichie, and holds the prestigious title of “Agbalanze” and “Ide” of Ozubulu.

Udeagbala’s presidency is poised to revolutionise the Organised Private Sector due to his local and international contacts, supported by a vibrant 1st National Deputy, Otunba Kelvin Dele Oye, a revered law practitioner and continental businessman.

He is the Principal partner of Dele Oye & Associates who served as the 2nd Deputy President of NACCIMA in the last tenure, was inaugurated as the 1st National Deputy President while Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, came on board as 2nd National Deputy President.

In his inaugural remarks, Udeagbala promised to follow through with the brilliant records of his predecessors and committed to sustaining NACCIMA’s legacy and providing creative ways to support the business community and facilitate real-time measures and innovations in favour of businesses.

As the voice of Nigerian Business, the new president stated that NACCIMA will deepen its engagement with government, the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria and other stakeholders through advocacy and various platforms that will further strengthen the association’s capacity to influence policies and decisions in favor of business.

He said: “It is with great humility and a high sense of service that I address the leadership and members of the Chamber Movement, and other stakeholders, as the 21st President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

“This event, which culminates in the transition from one president to another, is particularly significant as it has come close on the heels of the double celebrations of the 60th Anniversary of NACCIMA, and the NACCIMA@60 Awards held about a month ago in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“At that event, we honoured our deserving past leaders and other distinguished personalities who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields, and contributed significantly in various areas of our national life and at the international level.

“I express my deep appreciation and admiration to my predecessor in office, Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu. An experienced businesswoman and veteran of the chamber movement in Nigeria, her significant contributions and inspirational leadership, which were manifest during her tenure, were indeed remarkable, and have been acknowledged far and wide. She stands tall as a woman of substance. I sincerely thank her for her contributions and the continuation of the excellent tradition of past NACCIMA leaders. Special appreciation also goes to my 1st Deputy President, Otunba Dele Kelvin Oye, for the prominent role he has played in NACCIMA, especially in the past two administrations.”

From its inception and records of contributions, as the Premier National Chambers of Commerce, NACCIMA has truly proven to be the voice of Nigerian Business, for over 60 years.

NACCIMA, in collaboration with other members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, has been consistently at the fore-front of advocacy for policies that promote operations of the private sector.

The association has supported Trade Promotion through various means and facilitated the establishment of business while serving as the pathway for multinationals keen on working with Nigerian businesses.

NACCIMA has also influenced several government policies that have translated into tangible benefits for businesses, leading to growth of the national economy.

There are however, challenges before the new leadership as the world still contends with the dreadful COVID-19 pandemics.

Recognising this fact, Udeagbala said to the August gathering. “But let us remember that we are not completely out of the woods. There is, however, hope in the horizon of an end to the pandemic, especially with the discovery of vaccines and mass vaccination programmes.

“As the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic evolve, the Chamber movement has an opportunity to further serve and help reposition the conduct of business transactions in the community in our quest for economic recovery.”

All stakeholders and the entire private sector look forward to the realisation of all the programmes of Udeagbala which includes the completion of the NACCIMA Towers ongoing in Abuja.

His words: “For some time now, we have struggled with our building project in Abuja. Completion of the project, the NACCIMA Towers in Abuja will be one of the priorities of my administration. This is because NACCIMA must have a befitting and visible presence in Nigeria’s capital.”

He commended the Nigerian Government for its support to businesses right from the outset of the pandemic. “The various stimulus packages, to some extent, helped to cushion the negative impact of the pandemic on households and businesses. The Economic Sustainability Recovery Plan has also been of help as we have seen signs of economic recovery.

“But we still need to do more to move forward as a nation. The Chambers movement must be given more opportunities and visible roles in achieving this objective. This is because we provide a National platform through which businesses across the country can be reached to make these stimulus packages and other support programmes impactful.

“Chambers of Commerce across the world, through their members can be regarded to be the real creator of national wealth. They give practical meaning to the concept of Shared Prosperity across national levels and up to the grassroot level where poverty is wide spread and endemic. In this respect, I commend the Nigerian government for its immense support to the business sector through its various sectoral interventions. We will continue to be a veritable partner in this regard.”