Adesugba Receives Merit Award as CICAN Marks 20th Anniversary
Oru Leonard
The 1st Deputy President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, has been honoured with a Merit Award by the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN) for his contributions to business journalism, commerce and industry development.
The award was presented during CICAN’s 20th anniversary celebration, which brought together stakeholders to commemorate the association’s two decades of promoting professional journalism, economic reporting and national development.
Adesugba, an experienced journalist and founder of Chamber Telegraph, delivered the keynote address at the event, where he outlined critical policy measures Nigeria must pursue to achieve its ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.
He stressed the need for policy consistency, effective economic coordination and increased investment in productive sectors, warning that policy reversals after the 2027 general elections could undermine the country’s economic growth ambitions.
“The single greatest risk to the trillion dollar ambition is policy reversal,” he cautioned.
The ACCI deputy president identified a stable and reliable electricity supply as a fundamental requirement for economic transformation, describing the power sector as the master reform capable of unlocking growth across other sectors.
He also advocated stronger coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, equitable implementation of the new Tax Acts, greater involvement of state governments in economic development and improved national economic statistics through a strengthened National Bureau of Statistics.
Addressing the organised private sector, Adesugba urged businesses to adopt evidence-based advocacy rather than rely solely on complaints to influence government policies.
He further called on financial institutions to increase access to long-term financing for manufacturing, agriculture and infrastructure, particularly as interest rates begin to ease.
On the media’s contribution to economic development, Adesugba outlined seven essential responsibilities for journalists: explaining economic issues to the public, verifying information, monitoring government policies, investigating developments, ensuring balanced reporting, providing responsible market coverage and highlighting activities within the real economy.
He commended CICAN for sustaining its commitment to commerce and industry reporting over the past two decades, urging members to uphold professional standards and deliver credible, insightful and development-oriented coverage of Nigeria’s business environment.
In his remarks, CICAN Chairman, Mr Gabriel Kuma, expressed the association’s appreciation to Adesugba for his fatherly guidance, consistent support and continued identification with its activities.
Kuma said having a respected industry figure such as Adesugba as a role model would inspire members, strengthen the association’s unity and promote its professional growth.
The recognition underscores Adesugba’s contributions to business journalism, economic policy discussions and the advancement of Nigeria’s commerce and industry sector.
Credit: Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media and Strategy Officer
