The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is set to partner the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) and Nile University on innovation and entrepreneurship development that will benefit students of the institution.
The tone for the tripartite partnership was set when the duo paid a courtesy call on the chamber at its headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks, the ACCI president, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, expressed the chamber’s willingness to enter into the partnership, adding a memorandum of understanding would be signed to cement the agreement.
Represented by the 1st deputy president of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, Abubakar lauded the Nile University for its impressive record and the fact that it had attained full accreditation date would be set out a date when ACCI team could meet with Nile team on the tour of their facilities.
Earlier, the AEA acting managing director, Mallam Shehu Abdulkadir, said the meeting was to strengthen relationship between their team and ACCI, adding AEA had paid a similar courtesy visit on Nile University where it learnt the institution has a good relationship with the chamber hence the decision for the joint action.
“We have signed a strong MoU with Nile university which has developed into improvement of enterprises in Nigeria and we also look forward to signing MoU with the chamber,” he said.
In his remarks, the vice chancellor, Nile University, Prof. Osman Aras, said the MoU with the Enterprise Agency was in the area of developing entrepreneurial skills and that they also wanted to take the relationship further with ACCI by signing such an MoU.
He said the institution had done a lot with the chamber, adding within their school, they had seen lots of entrepreneurship development and interest among the students.
“We need a more robust relationship and official signing of MoU to chart a way forward.
“As soon as possible we want to draft the MoU because we are resuming by October. We look forward to more cooperation with you. I believe we can work together in the area of training and in social development,” he added.
In her remarks, the ACCI director-general, Victoria Akai, highlighted that the chamber operates within four centres, namely Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), National Chamber Policy Centre, Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology Center (BEST Center) and Abuja Trade Centre (ATC).
She said the BEST Centre was charged with the responsibility of coordinating the chamber’s training activities and that currently, the chamber is running training with the support of the German government.
“They are specialized in industrial trainings. We are also carrying out some training with other institutions. We just signed an MoU with the university of Abuja and the focus is to inculcate entrepreneurship development in young people.
“We can partner with you in terms of commercializing research and innovation. Through BEST Centre we carry out exhibitions together with educational and training institutions. You can also take advantage of that for your students,” she said.
The vice president, communications strategy and external relations, Dr. Idi Hong while giving the vote of thanks said there were lots of forums whereby the chamber and the university could relate.
“We assure you that you will have a good relationship with us because it is going to be a win-win situation. We also urge your people to invest more in the country because we know that the Turkish are doing well in terms of business,” he pointed out.
Hong also charged them to collaborate in the area of policy advocacy, adding “we have a centre that can help with advocating for favorable policies.”
The vice president, mines, Dr. Johnson Anene enjoined them to register as a member of the chamber, adding it would bring the two bodies closer.
“I also know that the chamber participated very well in your last trade fair and some of our members patronize the university. Some of us have our children there. It is a partnership we want to push forward,” he added.
