The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has reaffirmed its commitment to championing reforms and advocacy, aimed at engendering private sector wellness and development in Nigeria.
The president of LCCI, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, stated this at the Chamber’s 135th anniversary and logo unveiling held in Lagos.
The chamber, established in 1888, is one of the largest chambers of commerce in West Africa. Olawale-Cole said that the LCCI would continue to strengthen its engagement with government and stakeholders via its various advocacy as it calls for an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He described the chamber’s journey for the past 135 years as one of pride and impact, adding value to the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the economy of the country.
He noted that “we cannot ignore the challenges we have faced in recent years, but have managed to overcome.
“We have upheld the values of our predecessors and the principles outlined in our foundational documents and we have done so with courage.”
Olawale-Cole added that, “it has regularly maintained consultations on policies and measures affecting business and the economy with our time-tested approaches.
“We have grown and today’s LCCI has thousands of members, up from 14 members when this great institution started, and 26 sectoral groups, demonstrating our comprehensive coverage of the Nigerian economy.”
The LCCI President revealed that the anniversary was a six-month long event; beginning with today’s activity, the unveiling of the anniversary logo and theme.
He said the anniversary on a grander scale would give the chamber precious moments to foster interpersonal and institutional connections, to promote positive socioeconomic change, to empower individuals and to support charitable endeavours.
Olawale-Cole stated that the chamber would continually voiced its concerns regarding the difficult decisions Nigeria must make to set the economy on the path of sustained high and meaningful growth
Former Minister of Industry and also past president of LCCI, Dr Onikepo Akande, noted that the chamber had grown to be a leading light in the chamber movement in Africa.
According to her, LCCI has engaged the government, strengthened corporate organisations and provided rich mentorship to engender a better standing of the Nigerian economy.
Former director-general, LCCI, Amb. Adekunle Olumide stated that the chamber must also review ways to further enhance its strength to move forward.
He noted that key elements of the chamber’s strength include its influential membership across sectors, financial autonomy, unique governance system and professional secretariat to drive its administration, saying, “there’s however need for the services provided to be enhanced. So, more companies are encouraged to join the chamber, while our financial autonomy must be fully maintained with plans to diversify our financial sources.”
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