Obasanjo Urges Lawson to Change Face of NACCIMA & Boost the Nigerian Economy

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that the emergence of Iyalode Alaba Lawson as the first female president of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) would boost the Nigerian economy.

Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Bola, stated this in Abeokuta at the 57th Annual General Meeting and Conference of NACCIMA.

According to Vanguard, Obasanjo described Lawson as a woman of great virtue and industry and said he was not surprised about her emergence as the new national president following the expiration of the tenure of the outgone president, Dr Bassey Edem.

Obasanjo, in his goodwill message, advised Lawson to see her new status as another challenge, urging her to change the face of the association.

Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by the state commissioner for commerce, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, described Lawson as a respected business woman. Amosun, however, charged the new President to come up with good ideas and innovation that would move the chambers forward.

Lawson, in her remarks, said economic recession meant nothing to the association, adding that the association had already prepared mechanism to fight any economic meltdown.

Dignataries at the event included, but was not limited to Senior Special Adviser to President on trade and Industry, Dr Jumoke Oduwole; wife of the state governor, Olufunsho Amosun; president of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Frank Jacob; patron of NACCIMA, Ahmadu Rufai; Second Deputy President of Benin Republic, Awawu Alabi; representative of United Nations Development Organisation to ECOWAS and regional director, Jean Bakole, among others.