- Delegate excited seeing huge steel plant in Kwara
- As golf tournament, company visits, dinner highlight day one
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Tuesday flagged off the 65th Annual General Meeting/Conference of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in Ilorin.
The event began early in the day with a golf tournament at the Ilorin Golf Club, where Governor AbdulRazaq performed the ceremonial tee-off to the applause of many sports lovers.
Several business leaders, investors, captains of industry, key government officials and policy makers from across different states of the country are participating in the key event that will run till Friday.
The theme of this year’s AGM/Conference is ‘Harnessing private sector potential to achieve one trillion dollar economy by 2030’.
The golf tournament was aimed at promoting harmony, unity, love and brotherhood within the premier association.
The closing ceremony on Tuesday evening attracted prominent personalities such as former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo; incoming President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim; a retired police chief AIG Tunji Alapini; war veteran General Alabi Isama; among others.
Winners of various categories of the tournament were announced and awarded with mouthwatering prizes. Notable are Pro Oluwanishola Ologun (professional category), Golfer Elijah Obioma (ladies category), Lady Captain L.K Jimoh (veteran category). There were also consolation prizes for many other participants.
Earlier in the day, NACCIMA delegates visited four major companies in the state as part of activities marking the first day of the 65th AGM/Conference.
The companies included Kam Steel Integrated Company Limited in Jimba-Oja; TASCON Plastic Industries Limited in Ganmo; International Tobacco Company in Ilorin; and the state-owned Sugar Film Factory Studio, Ilorin.
Delegates were conducted round various sections of each of the companies.
At Kam Steel, the visitors from different parts of the country were in awe of the expansive facility contributing to socioeconomic development in the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the visit, National Vice President of NACCIMA, Ms Patricia Idiakhoa, said she feels happy to see that a huge steel plant such as Kam Steel is operating in Kwara State, adding that it is noteworthy that they source their raw materials locally.
“It makes us happy. I’m glad that we have such a huge steel company in Kwara State,” she noted.
At the International Tobacco Company, the NACCIMA delegates received a red carpet and warm welcome. They were later shown around the huge facility by its officials.
A royal touch was added to the event as the Ciroma of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, joined NACCIMA delegates at the ITC amid pomp and pageantry.
Managing Director of the Sugar Film Factory Studio, Mr. Gbenga Titiloye, led delegates to different sections of the studio, while speaking to their operations since establishment under the administration of Governor AbdulRazaq.
For his part, TASCON’s Head of Operations, Mr. Oladimeji Ajado, said it’s a great privilege to have delegates of NACCIMA visit their company.
“Before now, we have had KWACCIMA, CONSCCIMA. This is like the climax for us. We are delighted to host NACCIMA. Our doors are always open to them. We will like to host them more and more,” Ajado said.
The NACCIMA AGM/Conference will be featuring a chain of interesting activities including cultural night, investiture dinner, annual general meeting, exco meeting, conference, among others, for the next few days.
The event is a platform for networking, business discussions, and critical deliberations that will shape the future of industry and commerce in Nigeria.