Chamber pledges improved Nigeria-British businesses integration

Mrs Bisi Adeyemi, newly elected President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), has pledged to integrate more British businesses into the Chamber’s membership.

This is to provide closer interaction between Nigerian and British businesses.

Adeyemi made the pledge at the Chamber’s 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday in Lagos.

She said that the step would help emphasise the trade interaction between Nigerian and British businesses and ensure the former met appropriate standards for export products.

Adeyemi said the effort would be driven primarily via social networking and more informal events with the objective of delivering seamless trade services to United Kingdom companies seeking access to Nigerian markets and vice versa.

“We will also continue the efforts to revive the UK Network and better integrate its activities with those of the Chamber, to create seamless interaction for the benefit of our members in Nigeria and the UK.

“In this regard, concerted efforts will be made to deliver the British Trade Centre,” she said.

The newly elected NBCC President promised to consolidate the laudable achievements of the past administration and ensure consistent and sustainable growth of the Chamber as well as members’ prosperity.

She pledged sustained focus on Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), diversification of chamber’s funding sources, and the launch the NBCC Emerging Leaders & Executive Mentoring Programme.

Adeyemi also promised to strengthen the secretariat for improved service delivery, refocus sectorial groups for maximum impact, and reposition as the voice of business.

She said that programmes and events of the sectorial groups would be focused towards promoting Business to Business opportunities.

The NBCC president said that new sectorial groups to cater for the creative industry and enhance the robustness of membership would be inaugurated.

“We will improve the value proposition to members through better engagement, bespoke benefits, and services designed to meet the needs of members in a manner that directly impacts business performance.

“To achieve the goal of promoting member prosperity through networking, we will refocus the Sectorial Groups for better alignment with the objectives of the Chamber and the expectations of member companies,” she said.

Adeyemi described the administration of the immediate past President, Mr Kayode Falowo, as one with a clear focus which never wavered.

She said that his administration galvanized efforts to deliver on its 12-point agenda, the highpoint of which was the completion of the NBCC plaza conceived 27 years ago.

 “I doff my hat to his exemplary leadership, pursuit of excellence, generosity and affability and I know without a doubt that I can count on your support, and I thank you for your wise counsel which I shall continue to tap into.

“I have no doubt that with the support of council, exco, the secrtariat and our members, we shall at the end of our tenure have recorded resounding success and delivered on this agenda,” she said.

Falowo, on his part, said his 12-point agenda delivered on the completion of the NBCC Plaza and dedication of a facility to host the trade desk and a business incubation centre.

Others, he said, include the restructuring of the secretariat to enhance service delivery, holistic review of the Chamber’s constitution and various charters to remedy some of the observed gaps.

“Our tenure witnessed increased interest from prospects, with the number of members increasing by 76, bringing the current membership to 403, a 24 per cent increase from when we took over.

” In spite of the odds, we remained steadfast in delivering on our mandate and I can proudly say I am handing over a better Chamber; one that is the clear leader amongst Nigerian bilateral chambers, and one that should continue to attract high quality members, sponsors, partners and workforce.

“I urge you all to support the new president in consolidating all efforts to take the chamber forward, ” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that Adeyemi is the 17th President and the 2nd female President of the foremost bilateral Chamber in Nigeria. (NAN)