The story of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) will be incomplete without capturing the landmark efforts of Ms Alaba Lawson.
A former Director General of NACCIMA, Amb. Ayoola Olukanni, made the remark on Tuesday in Lagos while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Lawson, a former National President of NACCIMA, died on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the age 72. She held the traditional title of Iyalode of Yoruba.
“I had the honour of serving with Iyalode as DG NACCIMA during a part of her tenure as national president and I can testify to her commitment to the development of NACCIMA and the chamber movement at all levels,” Olukanni said.
He said Lawson’s vision to take NACCIMA and chambers in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria
to the highest level was unquestionable.
According to Olukanni, the chambers Accreditation Programme is a testimony in this regard.
Olukanni explained that Lawson, who was NACCIMA first female national president, initiated so many programmes and projects with many national and international institutions, including organisations of the UN Development System.
“Indeed, during her tenure, we participated in the 74th Session of the UNGA in November 2019.
“While we were in New York, she insisted we must visit the UN WOMEN Headquarters located on 42nd St. in New York and submitted an MoU between NACCIMA and UN WOMEN,” he said.
Olukanni recalled that the goal was to tap into the UN WOMEN programmes to support NAWORG, which Lawson nurtured to become a prominent National Women movement for Economic Empowerment of Women, especially those in the private sector.
“As a former High Commissioner to Australia, Iyalode encouraged us to work with our former High Commissioner, based in Canberra, for an economic visit to Australia in 2019 focused on mining.
“She eventually led the NACCIMA to Melbourne in Australia and Perth, Western Australia, to attend the 2019 Africa Down Under Mining Conference in Perth.
“Her objective was to link up NACCIMA members with Australian mining investors, in pursuit of her commitment to the development of the Nigerian Mining sector.
“She was also the inspiration behind the economic visit to Israel in 2019. At the West African sub-regional level, she did a lot at the level of FEWACCI,” Olukanni said.
He, however, admitted that: “Surely like all mortals, she had her little foibles.
“But Iyalode was truly visionary, a grassroots person and leader who courageously walked the talk, and tenaciously was always in pursuit of her goals with the courage of her conviction.”
Olukanni said a fitting tribute in her memory would be to continue the expansion and development of the chambers movement across the country.
This, he noted, would serve as a platform and forum, for inclusive economic growth and development in Nigeria and West Africa; “where no one will be left behind.”
Source: News Agency of Nigeria