Business
PHCCIMA Boss, Others Get IEOM Fellowships
Twelve outstanding personalities including the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, 2nd Deputy President, Eze Sir Mike Elechi, Managing Director of GGI Int’l Group, Engr. Dr Innocent Akuvue, former PHCCIMA President and MD/CEO of Multimesh Communication Limited, Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa and the MD/CEO of Menage, Mrs Floretta Halliday, among others have been inducted as Fellows of the Institute of Export Operations and Management of Nigeria.
The ceremony which took place during the IEOM Export breakfast meeting at Landmark Hotel in Port Harcourt attracted captains of industries high net-worth individuals, corporate bodies and strategic government agencies. Also elevated are Engr. Charles Akhigbe, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, Engr Anitie Ekpeyong, Mr Solomon Ezinwoke, Dr Mrs Jenny Nyiam Shitta Bey, Chief Daniel Okeke and Prof. Julian Osuji
Making his welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Institute of Export Operations and Management Nigeria, Mr. Ofon Udofia said he is highly elated being the first time such quality export event is holding in Port Harcourt.
He said the institute was licensed in 2014 and since then, has been involved in trainings and equally participated in trade exhibitions locally and internationally.
“But this time, we feel it is time to look inward and lay a solid but sustainable foundation for non-oil export participation by the people of the South-South region. Our people have been outsiders for too long and we hope to correct this, hence this breakfast meeting to discuss various issues from opportunities to challenges in the export ecosystem with special focus on seafood export.”
Making his keynote presentation at the breakfast meeting with the Themes Non-Oil Export, Opportunities and Challenges (Real Life Experience From the Seafood Sector), the Chairman of the Board of Trustee of IEOM, and Chairman/CEO of Prime Group, Chief Princewill Utchay took the crowd through the rudiments of starting a seafood business, export challenges and opportunities and made eye opening revelations to the delight of the crowd.
There were also presentations by the Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC on the rule of NEPC in non-oil export development; and also a speech from the Zonal Coordinator, Nigeria Shippers Council South-South Zone Mr Eke Ekpeyong.
Highlight of the event was the signing of training agreement between the IEOM and AMES Edo Inland Container Dry Port, the first inland dry port facility in South-South by the Managing Director/CEO, Engr Mike Akhigbe and Executive Secretary of IEOM, Mr. Ofon Udofia. There were also agreements between IEOM and Arthur Jarvis University, Cross River State.
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.