Jani Ibrahim, the current president of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(NACCIMA)has been elected president of Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry(FEWACCI). Nigeria born Ibrahim, emerged as the president in a recent meeting of FEWACCI in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, during the 11th annual general assembly of FEWACCI.

Ibrahim’s emergence is particularly important for Nigeria, in view of our huge population and influence on trade facilitations in the West African sub-region. Jani Ibrahim divulged all this information to the executives of Finance and Business Online Publishers(FIBOP) during a recent courtesy call on him in NACCIMA’S office in GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

He informed FIBOP executives that his election came at a time that businesses across the region are contending with challenges ranging from infrastructure deficit, financing constraints, and massive smuggling activities across various borders. He reiterated that West African sub-region has not been able to unlock the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) due to the various hindrances faced businesses in different member countries.

He emphasized that FEWACCI platform provides a mechanism for different chambers of commerce of member countries to collectively engage governments and other stakeholders on favourable policies capable of improving trade facilitations and promoting regional economic growth.

For Nigeria, Ibrahim’s emergence means a lot as this will translate into greater visibility of our goods and services in all the countries in the sub-region.

FIBOP visit provided members the opportunity to engage the NACCIMA president on new developments within the regional business environment and the role of media in promoting trade in different member countries.

With Ibrahim at the helm of affairs in FEWACCI, Nigeria is going to witness increased investment inflows, and deeper economic integration across West Africa.