The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in partnership with the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the University of Lagos, has unveiled the Association and Chambers Excellence (ACE) programme to train managers of chambers of commerce in Nigeria.
The ACE programme, developed by CIPE in collaboration with NACCIMA and UNILAG, is designed to build institutional capacity, improve staff competence, and enhance member engagement. It combines in-person workshops with online learning, focusing on tailored training, peer learning, and sharing of best practices.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, the Director-General of NACCIMA, Sola Obadimu, said chambers across the country face internal leadership struggles and external economic pressures that hinder membership growth and retention.
He also noted that many chambers grapple with unpaid dues, weak funding structures, and members’ poor participation, and therefore urged chambers to adopt ACE benchmarks and best practices. He stressed that continuous improvement, innovation, and collaboration are required to strengthen chambers of commerce operations to be able to deliver measurable growth in Nigeria’s private sector.
CIPE representative and former Lagos Chamber of Commerce president, Toki Mabogunje, said chambers in advanced economies are sustainable because management is treated as a profession. “In Nigeria, there is no structured career path. Some leaders hold positions for years without a sustainability plan, leaving chambers stagnant,” she said.
Mabogunje explained that the ACE initiative would help chambers optimise operations and position themselves for greater credibility as business membership organisations.
Director General of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Uchechukwu Mba, commended the programme, insisting that elected council members should undergo ACE training to address frequent clashes of roles within chambers.
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