The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce held it’s 63rd Annual General Meeting on Thursday, June 27th 2024 at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
A priority one-day gathering of the Chamber’s Members and stakeholders, the statement of Financial accounts for 2023 was presented and adopted. The meeting began with a statement by the immediate past President, Dame Adebola Williams, KJW., who reiterated that:
“NACC directly engages with policy makers, opinion leaders and stakeholders through advocacy and dialogue on issues affecting the interests and concerns of members at home and in the diaspora.
Series of Programmes and Activities embarked upon in 2023 include:
- Breakfast meeting tagged: Export to the U.S. series, Breaking Process Barriers’
- Another was Export to the U.S. Series, Financing Options for Export Operations.
- 2 variants of Breakfast meetings were introduced, A.G.E.N.D.A 2023, with the theme: Nigeria’s Inward and Outward Investments – Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions.
- SPOTLIGHT, Technology as an Enabler for SME Growth, Sustainability and Success.
We organized and implemented a 10 Day Trade Mission to the U.S. in April / May 2023. The Delegates also had the opportunity to attend Select USA with the Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Lagos, Mr Will Stevens leading the Nigerian Delegation. In a Programme tagged KONNEKT, we admitted new members into different categories of our membership Structure. About 20 new members got inducted at each event.
Our chapters in Nigeria (9) and in the U.S. (2) continue to grow and support their members as much as they can, complementing initiatives emanating from the National Secretariat. We are extending our footprint in the U.S. to the State of Maryland where Board Approval has just been given for the establishment of a new Chapter in Laurel, Maryland.
The Government of the State of Illinois, in the U.S. implemented an inbound Trade Mission from Wednesday 13th to Friday 15th of March 2024. The Mission was aimed at promoting two-way Trade between Nigeria and the state of Illinois, identifying sales representatives for goods, services and products made in Illinois for introduction to the Nigerian market with the Chamber serving as Partners.
African Food and Product Exhibition: This is a flagship annual Event that has successfully provided a platform for NACC member and non-member organizations to showcase their goods, products and services to Nigerian and Diaspora audiences. The event held in April 2024 with almost 100 participants exhibiting their food and other products to a diverse group of visitors and business people seeking to buy or make deals with exhibitors”.
Highlight of the AGM was the introduction and adoption of the Chamber’s new Executives, they are:
- Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, Managing Director of SHEBAG HOLDINGS Limited, as the 20th National President of the Chamber.
- Ehi Braimah, Managing Director/CEO of Neo Media & Marketing, Deputy President.
- Ambassador Bayo Idowu, Managing Director of POCHEPEM Nigeria Limited, Vice President.
- Chief Tobi Oduyale, Managing Director of Winelight Analytical Systems Limited, Treasurer.
- Ms. Yemisi Ogundipe, Founder of Yours Truly Ventures, Deputy Treasurer.
The President, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun was represented by the Deputy President, Ehi Braimah, who outlined several key programs and initiatives to drive the Chamber and prosperity for members during the administration including: SME Development and Training.
2. Export Focus Groups.
3. Financing Opportunities.
4. Geographical Crop Identification.
5. Synergy Between Chapters and Headquarters.
6. Trade Missions and Expos.
Together, we continue to uphold and advance the shared goals of the United States of America and Nigeria.
