By Joy Salami and Ogalla Daniel
The Kogi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KOCCIMA), has called for stronger collaboration with the media as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth and revive business activities in the state.
The President of KOCCIMA, Chief Femi Ajisafe, made the call during a courtesy visit to the management of The Graphic Newspaper, where he briefed the organisation of the chamber’s upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), and annual conference.
Ajisafe explained that the visit formed part of the chamber’s tradition of engaging key institutions, particularly the media, as leadership transitions approach.
Related News
“Our visit today is to share details of our upcoming activities, particularly our Annual General Meeting and the conference that follows. The AGM is meant strictly for members of the chamber to deliberate, review our progress and assess our performance over the period,” he said.
The KOCCIMA president also disclosed that the theme for this year’s annual conference is “The Chamber of Commerce as Panacea for Public-Private Partnership.”
He expressed concern over the slow pace of economic growth in the state and stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the private sector and government to drive development.
Ajisafe, an economist by training, lamented that the economic vision that accompanied the creation of Kogi State in 1991 had yet to be fully realised.
When Kogi State was created from parts of Kwara and Benue States, many of us believed that with the combined human capital of the people brought together, we would achieve remarkable development. Unfortunately, that dream has remained largely unrealised, he said.
He recalled that the state once experienced vibrant economic activities, particularly in the years immediately following its creation, when government projects and housing developments stimulated business growth.
He stated that in the early 1990s, economic activities were vibrant. Contracts were ongoing, housing estates were being built and people were engaged in various businesses.
‘Whenever infrastructural development begins, it naturally stimulates economic activity, money circulates and businesses thrive’ he further highlighted.
Ajisafe noted, however, that the current economic reality in the state reflects a marked decline in such activities.
Despite the challenges, Ajisafe expressed optimism that the situation could be reversed if stakeholders worked together to strengthen the private sector. He noted that global economic trends now favour business-to-business (B2B) engagements rather than traditional reliance on government-driven opportunities.
“Today, the focus globally is on business-to-business relationships. Businesses collaborate, share ideas and build partnerships. That is the direction we want to encourage through the chamber so that economic activities can grow again,” he said.
The forthcoming conference, he announced, will hold from March 25 to 26, with the main event scheduled for March 26 at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Lokoja.
Ajisafe also appealed to the media to support the chamber’s initiatives by giving adequate publicity to its programmes and activities, recalling the strong relationship that once existed between KOCCIMA and The Graphic Newspaper.
Responding, the Managing Director, Mr Yusuf Itopa, assured the chamber of the organisation’s full support, stressing that the media has a critical role to play in addressing societal challenges and promoting development.
He assured KOCCIMA that the organisation would not only report its events as news but also analyse and highlight the significance of its work for the development of the state.
Also speaking, the Executive Editor of The Graphic Newspaper, Mr James Oyewole, commended KOCCIMA for its initiative, describing the chamber’s efforts as timely.
Mr Oyewole also expressed concern that many young people from the state were leaving in search of opportunities elsewhere, warning that the trend raises serious questions about Kogi’s future.
“Foreigners will not come and develop our state for us. It is the people of the state who must take the lead in building the economy,” he said, urging government and stakeholders to support initiatives that would strengthen the private sector and check growing capital flight.
He encouraged KOCCIMA to remain committed to its vision of revitalising economic activity in Kogi State.
