Kunle ADELABU
-Sets membership drive as administration’s cornerstone
Engr. H. Adegboyega Babatunde Lawal, FNSE, FICE, FNICE and other newly elected executive members of the Ikorodu Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) were, on Thursday, November 8, 2018, officially sworn-in to lead the administration of the Chamber for the next two years.
The inauguration event took place at the Ikorodu Town Hall and was attended by the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye who was represented by Mr Lekan Ofunbowale.
Also in attendance were captains of industries, representatives of the Nigeria Germany Business Association (NGBA), business owners among others.
The event which also served as a platform for business owners to exchange ideas and suggest innovative ways of moving the Chamber forward, witnessed the unveiling of a new logo for the Chamber.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Engr. Laitan Onalaja, FNSE, PMJF , OFR, charged the new administration to embark on laudable activities that would make other stakeholders willing to join the Chamber while also adding that “the Chamber should help in promoting members’ businesses and also expose them to the values/importance of being in the Chamber”, he advised.
“The major purpose of ICCI is to promote members’ businesses and help them move from small scale business owners to big business owners, and by so doing, more people will also be willing to become members of the Chamber”, he said.
He also enjoined the Engr. Lawal led Chamber not to rely on only writing in getting the government to act on issues, but should also engage in advocacy to get things done.
He cited the moribund industrial estate at Odogunyan as an example of where the Chamber should embark on advocacy in ensuring that necessary facilities are provided.
In her address, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, stated that the Lagos State Government is doing everything to support businesses and promote made-in-Lagos products.
While enjoining the Chamber to look beyond Ikorodu in their engagements, she also asked them to always collaborate with the ministry for the development of businesses in the state.
Engr. H.O.B.Lawal , in his speech shortly after his inauguration, pledged to make membership drive the cornerstone of his administration while also calling on members to rededicate themselves to the advancement of ICCI and join hands in recruiting more quality members, stating that “large membership is good standing”.
“The experiences of membership are unique to each person and they are the root of each person’s individual desire to retain and advance their membership, to develop apathy to membership or to totally call it quits from the membership of the group”, he stated.
“Please, permit me to observe again that the full advantage of membership are derivable only if we have a strong membership i.e, a large membership in good standing.”
The new president stated that he is inspired to join hands with other members of the Chamber in moving it forward.
“I have read through the Constitution and Prospectus of our Chamber and I felt inspired to continue to join hands with our fellow members to employ the provisions of our Constitution and Prospectus to give practical meaning to the Mission, Vision and Purpose of ICCI.”
He added that quality membership recruitment will be the focus of his two years administration.
“My prayer to all current members is that we all rise to the occasion and recruit quality members who will religiously remain committed to the Chamber through effective participation and payment of dues and levies. Quality member recruitment shall, therefore, remain the cornerstone of our development in the next two years, even if it is going to mean achieving this through the services of a Consultant or group of Consultants”, Engr. Lawal stated emphatically.
“In this connection, it must be mentioned that indeed we have commenced the process of renewed membership recruitment and mission fulfillment through our visits to our Royal fathers in the last one week during which we were able to receive their royal blessings.”
He stated that ICCI was established in 2011 to represent, support and protect the interest of the business community in Ikorodu division.
“Conscious of the fact that since the 70’s, Ikorodu Division has remained the business and industrial hub of Lagos State, Ikorodu Chamber of Commerce and Industry was incorporated in 2011 and has since then represented, supported and protected the interest of the business community in Ikorodu Division as well as liaising with Government and the Private Sector operators within and outside Lagos State and Nigeria with a view to promoting, attracting and increasing trade and industrialization, among other things to Ikorodu division as well as Lagos State and the nation.”
He listed some of the achievements of the Chamber since inception to include regular business luncheon aimed at generating discussions and solutions to challenges confronting business among others.
Engr. Lawal thanked the immediate past executives of ICCI, led by Barr.( Prince) Jamiu Saka, for their pioneering role and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi, for his support since the inception of the Chamber in Ikorodu.
“We are grateful to the immediate past executives led by Barr (Prince) Jamiu Adio Saka, in laying a strong foundation for the Chamber. Prince Saka deserves our commendation for the pioneering role he played as the President of the Chamber in taking us this far.
“On behalf of the ICCI, I want to most profusely express our hearty appreciation to His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabiru Shotobi for all the support the Chamber has received from his office over the years. We are particularly appreciative of His Royal Majesty’s generosity and unflinching support towards the Chamber’s growth and success.”
The Director General of the Chamber, Mr. Micheal Isola Ojo, MNIM, gave a brief talk on the objectives, mission and vision of ICCI.
He stated that the Chamber was created to help promote and build businesses of its members.
Mr. Oluyinka AKande, the Head/Sponsorship Director, Nigerian German Business Association (NGBA), while briefly interacting with the guests, explained how their business association has been helpful in building and making made in Nigerian goods recognized within and outside Nigeria.
While disclosing that NBGA would be collaborating with ICCI, he also enlightened Stakeholders and Small/Medium Business owners on how to package, promote, and sell their products within and outside the country.
His words, “NGBA has been in existence for the past decades and has been helping/promoting locally made goods and also partnering with Small/Medium Company Owners on how to export their goods outside the county. The Nigerian German Business Association provide platforms for its members to receive qualified and skilled seminars on how to sell their goods and how to have access to other foreign countries.”
Akande also stated that NGBA has 85 German Companies which are currently working effectively and also in partnership with Companies that are in Agricultural Sector, Oil & Gas Sector, Chemicals and other businesses that can yield profits and promote the economy globally.
Alhaja M.O. Oduloye, Alhaja Zainab Alogba and Alhaji Fatai Kolawole gave testimonies on how their membership of the Chamber has helped in promoting their businesses and exposed them to local and international business engagements
The climax of the event was the official inauguration of Engr.H.O.B. Lawal and other newl executive members of the Chamber during which oath of office was administered on them by Barrister Lekan Ijelu, the Legal Adviser of the Chamber.
The full list of the new ICCI executive members include Engr. H.O.B. Lawal, President, Prof (Chief) Kunle Ade Wahab, 1st Deputy President, Sir Engr. R. 0. Shoderu, 2nd Deputy President, Rev. Col. (Rtd) B. T. Onafowokan, Vice President, Chief Oloruntele Oduloye, Vice President, Barr. Lekan Ijelu, Legal Adviser, Alhaja K. 0. Lamina, Treasurer, Alhaji Kolawole, Deputy Treasurer, Alhaji Mukaila Afolabi, Public Relations Officer and Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, immediate Past President.
Other are Engr. Lukman Erogbogbo, Ex-Offico Elected, ACP Opoola A. Taiwo (Rtd), Ex-Offico Elected, Alhaja M. 0. Oduloye, Ex-Offico Elected, Hon. Ganiu 0. Abiru, Ex-Offico Elected, Mr. Adeola Elliot, Ex-Offico Elected, 16. Mrs. Folake Jayeoba, Ex-Offico Elected, Chief Kaoli Olusanya, Ex-Offico Elected, Mr. Adewale Disu, Auditor and Chief Michael Ojo, MNIM, Director General.