By Our Correspondent
Monday, July 21, 2025 | Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
In a historic and symbolically rich event, the Ekiti State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EKICCIMA) on Monday, July 21, 2025, formally accredited the Emure City Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EMURECCIMA) as the eighth City Chamber under its operational umbrella, thereby reinforcing its commitment to deepening economic development across the grassroots in Ekiti State.
The final accreditation and courtesy visit, held at the EKICCIMA Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, brought together distinguished stakeholders in commerce, enterprise development, and economic planning, and marked a significant step in expanding the reach of the organized private sector in the state.
The day’s proceedings commenced with an opening prayer led by Engr. Afolabi Akosile, Vice President (Industry) of EKICCIMA, who set a solemn and purposeful tone for the day’s engagements.
Delivering the keynote briefing, the Director General of EKICCIMA, Pastor Olufemi Sanya Fabiyi, welcomed the Emure delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of the EKICCIMA structure, detailing its strategic alignment with national, regional, and sub-national frameworks. He traced the connection from the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to the Odu’a Chambers of Commerce (ODU’ACCIMA), and down to the localised Ekiti chapter.
Pastor Fabiyi further took the audience through the operational blueprint guiding chambers of commerce in Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of integrity, structure, and ethical leadership. He introduced the NACCIMA Code of Ethics, a guiding document that all registered chambers across the country are mandated to adopt and uphold in their operations.
“With the formal accreditation of EMURECCIMA today, we now have eight fully recognized city chambers under EKICCIMA, covering key economic belts of the state. These include Ado, Ikere, Ijero, Oye, Ikole, Efon, Ero, and now Emure. This signifies our intentional drive to create a robust, inclusive and responsive economic framework at the grassroots,” Fabiyi declared.
In her address, the leader of the EMURECCIMA delegation and pioneer President, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, expressed deep appreciation to EKICCIMA for the warm reception and recognition. She acknowledged the support of her team and reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing business development in the Emure Geo-Business District, which she described as “strategically poised for inclusive economic transformation through agriculture, mining, and enterprise.”
Rt. Hon. Adelugba also introduced her accompanying delegation, consisting of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals from various sectors, all of whom she noted were united by a shared vision to elevate Emure into a thriving business hub under the chamber system.
Delivering a goodwill message, Chief Kola Akosile, former President of both EKICCIMA and ODU’ACCIMA, and current Chairman of the NACCIMA SME Committee, praised the emergence of EMURECCIMA and underscored the strategic role of city chambers in Nigeria’s economic decentralisation. He encouraged the Emure team to embrace partnership-building, innovation, and the inclusion of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in their operational structure.
“The chamber system thrives where grassroots mobilisation is matched with structured mentorship, funding access, and policy advocacy. EMURECCIMA must build a coalition of business actors and deliberately position itself to drive sustainable wealth creation and local empowerment,” Chief Akosile advised.
In his formal welcome address, EKICCIMA President, Alhaji Olufemi Hassan, congratulated the Emure delegation on achieving full accreditation status, describing the milestone as “the birth of a promising chapter in the private sector story of Ekiti State.” He advised the new chamber to urgently establish a Cooperative Multipurpose Society (CMS) to enable capital mobilization, credit access, and wealth redistribution among its members, especially small-scale operators.
Alhaji Hassan also recommended that EMURECCIMA establish a clear governance structure anchored on a two-year single term for key offices such as President, 1st Deputy President, and 2nd Deputy President. He stressed that leadership selection should be guided by consensus and zoning principles rather than electoral contest, to ensure cohesion, equity, and stability.
The highpoint of the event was the formal motion for accreditation, which was moved by President Alhaji Hassan, seconded by Engr. Afolabi Akosile, and unanimously adopted by the EKICCIMA Executive Council. This was immediately followed by the presentation of the Certificate of Accreditation to the EMURECCIMA leadership team.
The certificate was presented by Alhaji Hassan, supported by other key dignitaries including Chief Kola Akosile, Engr. Afolabi Akosile, Mr. Adedayo Ige, NYE State Coordinator; Mr. Abayomi Adetunji, and DG EKICCIMA, Pastor Fabiyi.
Group photographs, a vote of thanks delivered by Engr. Afolabi Akosile, and a shared moment of prayer marked the ceremonial conclusion of the event.
Monday’s accreditation ceremony not only signifies EMURECCIMA’s formal integration into the EKICCIMA network but also reaffirms the broader mission of the Ekiti Chamber to build a commercially resilient and economically empowered state by fostering inclusive growth through chamber-driven structures.
With this milestone, the Emure City Chamber joins a growing movement of business communities leveraging structured collaboration, access to resources, and policy advocacy to unlock prosperity for Ekiti State from the grassroots up.
Pst Olufemi Sanya FABIYI
Director General
EKICCIMA Secretariat, Ado-Ekiti
