LCCI becomes first chamber in W/Africa to be ISO certified

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has emerged as the first chamber of commerce in West Africa and second in Sub-Saharan Africa to be ISO certified.

The ISO 9001:2015 certification, delivered by Bureau Veritas in Lagos, is a testament that the chamber’s management systems align with global best practices, said the chamber. The certification also improves LCCI’s services to its clients and puts it in the same class as other efficient and effective global organisations, BusinessDay understands.

“It demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement, excellence in our service delivery, value proposition to members and the business community in general,” Toki Mabogunje, president of the LCCI, said on Tuesday during the presentation of the certificate in Lagos.

She said with the arrival of the COVID 19 pandemic, the LCCI’s processes were tested, explaining that the certification had made it easier for the chamber to improve its efficiency, cost-reduction measures and overall productivity. Mabogunje further said that the certification had also enabled the chamber to adapt to the ‘new normal’ in decision-making process and digital transformation.

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She recalled that the journey towards the ISO certification began in September 2018, under the leadership of Babatunde Ruwase, former president, who approved its commencement, commending Muda Yusuf, director-general of the chamber, for taking up the gauntlet and ensuring its execution.

“Nigeria as a country is looking to be among the developed economies of the world in the not-too-distant future, and one of the things that are critical to be on the global stage is meeting the global best standards. If we meet global standards, we can be competitive; we can be compared with products and services anywhere in the world,” she further said.

“A lot of people do not realise that to be able to meet global standards, putting processes in place, you are thinking long term and also thinking about the business out-living you,” she stated.
Also speaking at the event, Ohioze Unuigbe, managing director, Bureau Veritas Nigeria, said the standards helped chambers of commerce and firms to compete globally.
“When they start growing, they need to embrace global standards and practices to aid that growth, and what this certification does is that it gives a quality management system that is globally accepted and accredited,” he said.

He further said the certification always helped companies position themselves for that big growth, stressing that it was always a monumental achievement to obtain that.

“I will like to congratulate all the stakeholders involved. This is no easy feat; LCCI made it look easy, but I can guarantee you it is not an easy feat,” he said.