The National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim, has been elected President of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) following a keenly contested election.
His emergence marks a significant development for Nigeria’s organised private sector and further strengthens the country’s role in promoting trade, investment and business cooperation across West Africa.
Announcing the development in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, the Director-General of NACCIMA, Engr. Sola Obadimu, said Ibrahim’s election reflected confidence in his leadership, strategic outlook and commitment to private-sector development.
According to Obadimu, the election represents not only a recognition of Ibrahim’s leadership qualities but also an important achievement for Nigeria and the wider business community across the West African region.
“As President of FEWACCI, Engr. (Dr.) Ibrahim is expected to advance cooperation among chambers of commerce, strengthen regional economic integration, promote intra-West African trade, and champion policies that support enterprise growth and shared prosperity across the region,” the NACCIMA Director-General said.
FEWACCI serves as a platform for chambers of commerce and business organisations across West Africa to collaborate on issues affecting trade, investment and private-sector development.
Ibrahim’s new role is therefore expected to place greater emphasis on improving business-to-business cooperation, addressing barriers to intra-regional trade and strengthening the capacity of private-sector institutions to influence economic policy.
His election comes at a time when businesses across West Africa continue to contend with challenges including infrastructure deficits, trade barriers, currency volatility, financing constraints and regulatory bottlenecks.
The effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) also presents opportunities for regional businesses to expand into new markets, increase intra-African trade and develop stronger regional value chains.
As FEWACCI president, Ibrahim will be expected to work with chambers of commerce and other private-sector stakeholders to help translate these opportunities into practical benefits for businesses across the region.
Obadimu said Ibrahim’s emergence “further reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in regional commerce and positions FEWACCI for a new era of purposeful engagement, stronger partnerships, and sustainable economic development.”
The appointment also provides an opportunity for Nigeria’s organised private sector to deepen its engagement with businesses and policymakers across neighbouring economies.
With the private sector playing an increasingly important role in regional economic integration, Ibrahim’s tenure at FEWACCI is expected to focus on strengthening collaboration among business communities while advocating policies capable of supporting enterprise growth, investment and job creation across West Africa.
