By Lubem Gena
Congratulatory messages have continued to pour into the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), since Chamber Telegraph broke out the emergence of its President, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, CON., SAN emerged as the Vice President of the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI).
In her message the President of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), Iyalode Alaba Lawson last night underscored the sterling qualities of Prince Kayode which have earned the top notch job in Organised Private Sector (OPS) continental organisation.
The FEWACCI President emphasised that Prince Kayode’s dedication and thorough commitment to the development of the economy of Nigeria, West Africa and his untiring efforts in harnessing the potentials of African countries as well as creating forum to discuss issues of common concern are all outstanding.
“Congratulations to our dear Prince Adetokunbo Kayode for this great elevation. As a Council Member, you succeeded in bringing the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) into the limelight of Chambers Movement in the continent of Africa.
“You are NACCIMA pride indeed a right peg in the right hole so far this new role is concerned. It is indeed a big season of harvest of promotions in NACCIMA.
This is because Jehovah is in control of our committed members that have passion for our noble association.
“I deeply congratulate on this new job and I am of the unshaken confidence that you will succeed and to the glory of not just Nigeria or ECOWAS member states but for the entire African continent”, Iyalode Lawson stated.
They all described Prince Kayode as the man with the ideas needed to elevate economy of the continent from the OPS perspective in which internal development and production will be stimulated.
Also, the Publisher of Chamber Telegraph who is also the Vice President in ACCI and Provost of the Business Entrepreneurial Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba said, he received the news with a conviction that Prince Kayode will surpass the expectation of his office.
“I have worked closely with Prince Kayode for over two decades. He is a workaholic, a go-getter, committed player in the chamber movement. A man with ideas that are not only aimed at improving the way and manner Chamber activities are conducted but also deeply involved in mentoring the younger ones to imbibe the spirit of entrepreneurship.
“PACCI will grow in leap and bounds. He will introduce and inject a new dynamism, creativity and ingenuity in its operations. I am overwhelmed with joy over this election”, Adesugba said.
Meanwhile, Otunba Dele Oye, a close confidant of Prince Kayode in his message also wished him well in his new role.
Others, that sent in there congratulatory messages include elated members of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry amongst who is the Second Deputy President Chief Emeka Obegolu who said Prince Kayode will take PACCI to the next level also prayed God to grant him more wisdom, direction and energy to steer the affairs of PACCI.
“Congratulations Mr President. Well deserved recognition for your hard work sir. They said the reward for hard work is more work. May God give you the strength and wisdom to execute the office. Ameen” Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, a former cabinet Minister in Nigeria and ACCI Honorary Council member said.
Amongst other NACCIMA officials who congratulated Prince Kayode are the First Deputy National President, Hajia Saratu Aliyu, Alhaji Sanusi Maijama, Chief Charles Okeke and Nabil Saleh, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Adetokunbo Kayode is a corporate lawyer, tax expert and international arbitrator.
He is a Senior Advocate Of Nigeria (SAN), and a Life Bencher, respectively, the highest rank and the highest honor a practicing lawyer may attain in Nigeria.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitration, UK; Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators of Nigeria; and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
He studied law at the University of Lagos, Strategic Leadership at the Oxford and Cambridge Universities, Strategy and Public Communications at the World Bank/ Annenberg Program of the University of Southern California, as well as Strategic Negotiations training at the Harvard University.
He has served the Government of Nigeria as Cabinet minister in four different positions: Culture and Tourism; Labour, Employment; Federal Attorney General and Hon Minister of Justice and as Minister of Defence.
He chairs the Peace and Security Committee of the Pan African Lawyers Union, Dar es Allam, Tanzania.
Kayode has business interests in legal and tax consultancy, agriculture, electric power and mining.
He is on the board of the National Associations of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture of Nigeria, Nigerian Chamber of Mines, Nigeria Association of Investment Promotion Agencies.
He Chairs the Boards of the Gemological Institute of Nigeria, Gems Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria as well as the Board of Trustees of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists responsible for SMEs development in Nigeria, as well as the Nigeria Private Sector Alliance.
He also represents the NACCIMA/Nigeria Organised Private Sector (OPS) on international trade and Chamber matters.
He holds the Nigeria National Honors of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) well as the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) of the Republic of Liberia.
Currently, he serves as the President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria.
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan organization established in 2009 to serve Africa’s business by promoting for public policies that will foster continental economic integration, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
PACCI offers its constituents a wide range of services including advocacy for the creation of the African Economic Community, capacity building, and business networking.
With more than 50 national chambers of commerce acting as its local focal point, PACCI is the largest business association in Africa, and the continent’s most influential.
Its strength lies not just in the numbers but in dedicated commitment to increase the prosperity of Africa by promoting and encouraging the growth of existing businesses and the establishment of new businesses.
