ACCI to partner Enterprise Agency, Nile University on Innovation, Entrepreneurship Dev’t

Oru Leonard

Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has expressed her readiness to partner with Nile University and Abuja Enterprise Agency on innovation and entrepreneurship development that would benefit students of the institution.

This was made known when a delegation from the Abuja Enterprise Agency together with Nile University visited the Chamber on Wednesday, seeking collaboration and partnership with ACCI and calling for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the partnership.

The President of ACCI, Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar represented by the 1st Deputy President ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu at the meeting said ACCI is ready to collaborate with the team and foster a good relationship that will contribute to economic development.

“We are interested with partnering with Nile university, we will constitute a committee that will look at the parameters for the signing of the MoU.”

He lauded the efforts of Nile University for the work they are doing, adding that we are glad that the University has attained full accreditation while saying that they would communicate to the President, Dr. Abubakar and set out a date when ACCI team can meet with Nile team on the tour of their facilities.”

The Acting Managing Director, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Mal. Shehu Abdulkadir said the meeting was to strengthen relationship between their team and ACCI adding that when they paid a courtesy call to Nile, they were told that the University has a good relationship with the Chamber hence, the need to organize this meeting for a way forward.

“We have signed a strong MoU with Nile University which has developed into improvement of enterprises in Nigeria and we also look forward to signing MoU with the Chamber he said.

The Vice Councellor, Nile University, Prof. Osman Aras said the signing of the MoU with the Enterprise Agency is in the area of developing entrepreneurial skills and they also want to take the relationship further with ACCI by signing such MoU.

He said the University had done a lot with the chamber adding that within their school, they have seen lots of entrepreneurship development and interest among the students. “We need a more robust relationship and official signing of MoU to charge a way forward.

“As soon as possible we want to draft the MoU because we are resuming by October. We look forward to more cooperation with you. I believe we can work together in the area of training and in social development.”

The Director General ACCI Victoria Akai revealed that the Chamber operates within four Centre namely; Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), National Chamber Policy Centre, Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology Center (BEST Center) and Abuja Trade Centre (ATC).

She said the BEST Centre is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the Chamber’s training activities adding that currently, the Chamber is running a training, with the support of the German government.

“They are specialized in industrial trainings. We are also carrying out some training with other institutions. We just signed an MoU with the University of Abuja and the focus is to inculcate entrepreneurship development in young people.

“We can partner with you in terms of commercializing research and innovation. Through BEST Centre we carry out exhibitions together with educational and training institutions. You can also take advantage of that for your students.”

The Vice President Communication Strategy and External Relation, Dr. Idi Hong while giving the vote of thanks said there are lots of forums whereby the Chamber and the University can relate.

“We assure you that you will have a good relationship with us because it is going to be a win-win situation. We also urge your people to invest more in the country because we know that the Turkish are doing well in terms of business.”

Dr. Hong also charged them to collaborate in the area of policy advocacy adding that we have a Centre that can help with advocating for favorable policies.

The VP Mines, Dr. Johnson Anene enjoined them to register as a member of the chamber adding that it will bring the two bodies closer together.

“I also know that the Chamber participated very well in your last trade fair and some of our members patronize the university. Some of us have our children there. It is a partnership we want to push forward.”