We will reactivate industrial activities in Aba-Nwakpadolu

Emma Nwakpadolu, managing director/chief executive officer of Cone Oil and Gas Limited, the newly elected President of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) in his maiden press briefing, promised to protect the interest of business operators in Aba. GODFREY OFURUM was there for BusinessDAY. Excerpts: 

Preamble

I want to thank members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) for electing me and my executives to lead the Chamber for the next two years. And haven been very much associated with the achievements of my predecessors, especially the immediate past administration, led by Anthony Enukeme, we will strive to improve on the achievements of that administration.

The entire members of the ACCIMA as well as the Aba business community are looking up to us to improve on the achievements of our predecessors. This has become imperative in order to keep abreast with the state of affairs in the business world.

I have no doubt in my mind about your trust on us as a team. With your unalloyed support and encouragement and God on our side we shall succeed. I assure you that we shall neither disappoint you nor betray your trust.

I want to assure you that this administration will work as a team with a view to improving the socio-economic development of Aba in particular and Abia State in general. We will reactivate industrial activities in Aba, which was once known and referred to as the Japan of Africa.

I recognize in a very special way, the first deputy president of our chamber-Ossy Prestige, member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for his understanding.

What should we expect from your administration?

The chamber movement represents the organized private sector and the essence of having the chamber is to protect the interest of our members, react to the policies of government, especially those that affect the organized private sector.

This period, the mantle of leadership is on me, and I have observed the activities of the chamber. I’ve served the chamber in different capacities, including vice president, corporate affairs and Vice President Finance. Based on my experience, especially with the immediate past executive, I’ve leant a lot and will continue from where that administration stopped to ensure that the chamber moves ahead.

Past trade fairs in Aba have not been so encouraging. What will you do to improve subsequent trade fairs hosted by the chamber?

We had fundamental problems with previous trade-fairs, which has to do with lack of a permanent trade fair complex. We’ve been using venues not conducive for such an activity. In 2014, which was the last edition, we used Abia State Polytechnic field, and also when the school was in session. The pressure they mounted on us affected the activities of that trade fair, but at the end, we had the trade fair.

But for the fact that the immediate past president, has made a move to acquire a permanent trade fair ground, I will not relent in making sure that Aba Chamber of Commerce actualizes that dream. However, my administration will ensure that we improve on the organization of the next edition of the Aba Trade Fair. We are going to step up our awareness campaign to ensure that we attract key manufacturers within and outside the country, to make it truly an international trade fair.

City Chamber is supposed to be the umbrella body of the organized private sector, however, this is not so in Aba, as some groups and association, especially artisans, don’t want to get involved in your activities. How are you going to get these categories of people involved in your activities?

ACCIMA is the umbrella body of the organized private sector in the commercial city of Aba. All business interest groups are our members, because whatever they want to achieve for their various groups may be a little difficult if they do it on their own. But if they pass through the chamber, they will get prompt response. And for us to speak with one voice, we are going to revive the Aba business coalition group, a coalition of business associations and groups in Aba, which was  initiated by, Azuka Alagwu, one of our past Presidents.

Your immediate past president, urged the Federal Government to re-establish Bank of Industry (BoI) in Aba. What are you going to do to ensure that BoI returns to Aba and what will be your legacy by the time you step down as the President of ACCIMA?

I don’t pray for failure. Moreover, the Immediate Past president has prepared a good ground for me to succeed. His request for BoI to return was a consensus decision. As our President, he was relaying our decision to the Government. BoI left Aba, because of insecurity, but security has been restored in Aba and so they should come back and join other banks to help grow our economy, by supporting entrepreneurs.

Some institutions and individuals that left Aba, because of insecurity are coming back and so we expect BoI to return. The present leadership in Abia State has also assured us of security in Aba.