Yusuf, others to speak at 2021 CICAN workshop

By allcitynews.ng

As part of its efforts to address effects of COVID-19 and harsh economic environment caused by scarcity of foreign exchange for local manufacturers, journalists in the real sector, Commerce and Industry Correspondents of Nigeria (CICAN), has perfected its plan for workshop and award.

The workshop is to bring technocrats in the industry to tell the entire country the way to repair the damages done to the economy by the pandemic.

Worried by the dearth of foreign exchange, CICAN hope to use the programme to learn more on how best the impart on the local industries by scarcity of foreign exchange can be overcome.

The event, pencilled to take place, Thursday 16, December, 2021 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos will start by 4 pm.

Charles Okonji, the chairman of the association and the chairman, planning committee, Barnabas Eshiet, said the workshop with the theme” Impact of Forex crisis on the Real sector & MSMEs ” will attract economic experts and captains of industry in the manufacturing, SMEs , financial institutions in the country.

The duo stated that the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), and immediate Past Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI) Dr Muda Yusuf will be the guest speaker at the event.

Yusuf will talk more on the impact of the scarcity of FX on the country’ s manufacturing industry in particular and the economy at large.

According to Okonji and Eshiet, some of the awardees include his Royal Highness, Igwe Chris Oranus , the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) Kris Oral Group of Companies, Malinson Afam Ukatu , The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Nipson, whose firm pioneers tiles production in Nigeria, Mr. George Onafowokan, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) Coleman Wires & Cables, who is been recognize for the great strides of his firm in wires and cables manufacturing and Engr. Bede Egwu Obayi, FNSE
Director, National Metrology Institute, SON, for his passion for standards compliance.

Also Mrs Zaheera Baba- Ari, who is the Managing Director of Nigeria Commodities Exchange and the current Commissioner of Agriculture of Ogun State who have done much for agriculture sector of Ogun State will be awarded by CICAN.

It noted that institutions like Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ( NACCIMA) who have had sustainable partnership with CICAN for three decades, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN) who has consistently use it’s advocacy roles to champion the cause of the country’s manufacturers are also to be recognized at the occasion.

The panelists will include Igwe Chris Oranus, Mr Malinson Afam Ukatu, Mr George Onofowokan and the Director General of NACCIMA , Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni.

CICAN is a known voice in the real sector. It is always out with report and analyse on manufacturing and
the usefulness of SMEs in the growing and development of the economy.

Over the years, the association used every December to bring together captains of industry, manufacturers, SMEs operators, financial institutions players and the media and other experts to discuss topical issues confronting the Real and SMEs sector, the statement concluded.

It would be recalled the manufacturers umbrella body recently cried out against herculean task by members of OPSN to access up to 20 per cent of it’s FX needs from the local banks which the Central Bank of Nigeria designated for the purpose.