LCCI admits 74 firms, commences mentorship of 70 young entrepreneurs
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has admitted 74 entrepreneurs into its fold while also creating five new sub-groups to reflect the current economic realities.
The chamber has equally begun the mentorship of 70 young entrepreneurs, with a view to enhancing their capacities to manage businesses.
Few of the 74 new businesses inducted into the chamber included Rack Centre, Footprint To Africa, Erisco Foods, Beta Glass, and Financial Trust Company Nigeria Limited, among others.
At the induction of the new members last Wednesday, the chamber announced the creation of the Insurance Sector Group, Mining and Solid Minerals Group, Real Estate Group, Educational, Printing and Publishing Group, as well as the Pharmaceutical and Medical Group.
The chamber already has Agriculture and Allied, Automotive, Export, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Industrial, and Finance Sector groups, among others.
The new groups were created to reflect the current trends in the economy.
“I think this number (74) is the highest in a long time,” said Nike Akande, president of LCCI, at the induction in Ikeja, Lagos.
“I wish to confirm to you that by popular demand, the chamber has created new groups, whose membership is open to both old and new members,” Akande said.
According to Akande, who is a two-time industry minister, the LCCI had come a long way in building its current image and credibility through the vision, selfless services and integrity of its illustrious founding fathers and their worthy successors, urging the new members to keep the flag flying at all times.
She enjoined them to be committed to the ideals of high ethical standards and responsible corporate citizenships, stressing that the chamber had a code of business ethics to which all members were to subscribe to.
“The chamber has been a major private sector organisation advocating for conducive business environment in Nigeria. It is therefore heart-warming to see several companies attracted by the many valuable activities of the chamber and thereby deciding to become part of the Lagos Chamber,” she added.
Toki Mabogunje, head of membership department of LCCI, urged the new members to take advantage of the chamber’s platform to network, make new friends, with a view to growing their businesses and the economy.
“As you join us today, let us know what your concerns are and what you want us to do,” Mabogunje said.
She said the LCCI was known, not just for advocacy but also for evidence-based advocacy, admonishing the new entrants to ensure they became financially responsible both for the chamber and their sub-groups.
The chamber, in its tradition, has also commenced a six-month mentorship programme for 70 young entrepreneurs.
The LCCI mentoring programme, which is handled by the chamber’s Business Education Services and Training (BEST) unit, started in 2013 with 25 young mentees. By the end of the 2015, the chamber had trained and mentored 93 young entrepreneurs, most of whom are successful in their various spheres of business.
According to Nike Akande, president of LCCI, the mentoring program was a corporate social responsibility activity of the chamber aimed at harnessing the huge human capital potential which Nigeria’s youthful population offered.
“The idea is to begin to nurture the next generation of businessmen and women. Quality human capital can be a major driver of sustainable economic transformation,” she stated.
Suboma Ajumogobia, chairman of board of BEST unit, urged the mentees to see this program as a life time opportunity.
“Please take your time to be punctual and extract maximum benefit from the program. Above all, the mentoring sessions are practical sessions; you therefore need to ensure that you put whatever you are taught into practice in your business life. I counsel you to seize this opportunity to network effectively with your predecessors. At the end of the program, please pick your membership form and get inducted into the mainstream membership of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; it is sincerely for your own good,” Ajumogobia counselled.
Chris Ngige, who was represented by Wale Shado, said the entrepreneurship mentoring programme was apt when viewed against the backdrop of President Mohammadu Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda on employment generation and youth empowerment for sustainable development. Ngige urged Nigerians to support the laudable initiative of the LCCI and the government at all levels to fight unemployment through entrepreneurship development and mentoring and all other ventures that sought to promote self-reliance and development.
ODINAKA ANUDU