LCCI is the leading voice of the private sector — President
The Lagos State Chamber for Commerce and Industry (LCCI) held its third new members’ induction ceremony for the year with 57 organisations inducted.
According to the President of the chamber, Asiwaju (Dr.) Michael Olawale Cole, CON, “For over 13 decades, LCCI has remained the leading voice of the private sector through its sustained public policy advocacy, stakeholders’ engagement and trade promotion activities. The chamber has dedicated resources and energy to consistently promote and protect private enterprise development, commercial and industry activities to foster global competitiveness of the Nigeria economy. The goal of the Lagos Chamber is encapsulated in our mission which is:
“To promote and protect the interest of its members and the business community at large through public policy advocacy, creation and facilitation of commercial and industrial opportunities, provision of business development service and observance of highest standard of business ethics.”.
He explained that the occasion was organised to formally induct worthy businesses that meet the criteria to become members of the prestigious Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The President remarked, “I hope you are very elated to be welcomed into the oldest and foremost chamber of commerce and industry in the entire West Africa sub-region. As you may already know, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, was founded in 1888 and incorporated in the year 1950 as a non-profit making organisation, Limited by Guarantee under the Companies Act of 1948.”
“The efforts and sacrifice of LCCI’s visioners, founding fathers and successive leadership to give us an institution we are all proud to be associated with cannot be overemphasised. They laboured passionately and unconditionally to preserve the cherished legacy of impeccable, impartial, and faithful service to all. Their commitment to actualisation of the mission and strategic goal is the backbone of the Lagos Chamber’s progress and growing popularity in Nigeria and across the world. I make bold to inform you that the LCCI is the only chamber of commerce in Nigeria that is appointed to the General Council of World Chambers Federation (WCF) to reaffirm the Lagos Chamber’s relevance in the international chamber movement.
“In the quest to continue to play leadership roles in the chamber’s movement in West Africa, the LCCI in year 2020 bagged International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate, thereby becoming the first Chamber of Commerce in West Africa sub-region to be ISO certified and the second on the continent of Africa. Another milestone we relish with pride.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis that came with it underscore the need for innovation and new models for organisations and institutions to meet the emerging needs and expectations. As innovative and dynamic institution, the crisis gave us the fillip to re-evaluate our operation model, rejig our processes and procedures and broaden our scope of services and policy advocacy initiatives and programmes to be able to adequately support the development of the business community and the economy in general.”
He further noted, ‘the challenges created by COVID-19 portend new opportunities that we must never allow to waste away. As the economic activities gather momentum across the world, it is imperative for businesses to seek out and seize the opportunities emerging in the global recovery. This involves diagnosis of actions taken, data, trend and insights on lessons learned from the pandemic, and then using the outcomes to prioritise strategic measures to enhance business operation and build strategic resilience for future.
“As we formally induct your company into the Lagos Chamber’s family today, I wish to emphasise the commitment of the Lagos Chamber to the cherished tradition of high ethical standards, innovation, continuous improvement, integrity, and good corporate governance in business practice.
“As business owners and managers, though your primary obligation is to maximise profit, I charge you to pay adequate attention to the integrity of your business transactions and practices, environment, climate actions and social sustainability. I, therefore, enjoin you all to be committed to the core principles of high ethical standards, global best practices, and responsible corporate citizenships. Indeed, the Chamber has a code of business ethics to which all members are to subscribe.
“The Lagos Chamber has been reinforced to continue to consistently provide services that meet the needs and expectations of our valued customers and esteemed stakeholders to catalyse private enterprises and organisations to achieve full potentials in terms of sustainable growth and global competitiveness.
“It is therefore expedient for us to position our organisations to benefit optimally from the specially designed initiatives and programmes of the chamber. I am confident that with your active participation in the activities of the chamber, your businesses will derive tremendous benefits”.
The President concluded his remarks by congratulating the inducted members as bonafide members of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry with wishes for further successes and prosperity in their endeavours.
