State Positions Itself as Business Gateway with NACCIMA’s Return

Anambra State is sharpening its credentials as a rising economic hub in Nigeria, marked this week by the symbolic return of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) for its third quarterly meeting — the first time in 16 years that the apex private sector body is convening in the state.

The reception of NACCIMA’s new president, Engr. Chief Jani Ibrahim, at the Achebe International Airport in Umueri by Anambra’s Commissioner for Industry and Trade, Hon. Christian Udechukwu, signalled more than a ceremonial welcome. It reflected the administration of Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s ambition to integrate Anambra more firmly into Nigeria’s national and global investment conversations.

NACCIMA, which speaks for more than 250,000 businesses across Nigeria and the diaspora, plays a central role in shaping the country’s commercial climate. As the umbrella body for chambers of commerce nationwide, its influence stretches across policy advocacy, trade facilitation, and strategic partnerships that connect Nigerian enterprises with international markets.

“The return of NACCIMA to Anambra after more than a decade and a half is significant. It is a vote of confidence in the state’s improving business environment and a recognition of the economic reforms taking root,” said Mr Udechukwu, himself a former UK-based entrepreneur.

Governor Soludo and Hon Commissioner Udechukwu

Governor Soludo, a former central bank chief, has spent much of his tenure pitching Anambra as a fertile ground for industrial and commercial growth. His government has emphasised security improvements, infrastructure development, and policies designed to de-risk private sector investment.

Anambra’s strategic location in south-eastern Nigeria, coupled with its strong tradition of entrepreneurship, has long made it an epicentre of trade and manufacturing. The state remains a critical node in Nigeria’s informal economy while increasingly seeking to formalise and attract structured capital.

Engr Jani Ibrahim

Under Engr. Ibrahim’s leadership, NACCIMA is expected to pursue a stronger agenda for private sector growth at a time when Nigeria faces sluggish GDP expansion, currency volatility and structural bottlenecks. For Anambra, the presence of the national chamber opens opportunities to connect its micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with national policy frameworks and international investment windows.

Business leaders see NACCIMA’s renewed engagement as a chance to galvanise industrial clusters in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka — long recognised for commerce, automotive assembly, and light manufacturing — into globally competitive centres.

“The opportunities for Anambra are immense,” noted Mentoring Cmdt. Alistair Diaspora-based African analyst. “With the right partnerships, the state can position itself not just as a regional player, but as a national export base in agro-processing, technology and creative industries.”

For NACCIMA, Anambra represents more than a regional host. Its convening in the state underscores the association’s mission to knit together Nigeria’s diverse commercial hubs, while projecting a unified voice for business. The organisation’s global linkages also carry the potential to draw diaspora capital and international partnerships into the state’s development drive.

As Engr. Ibrahim begins his tenure, expectations are high that NACCIMA will sharpen its advocacy role, reduce regulatory friction, and champion inclusive growth for Nigeria’s vast network of entrepreneurs.

For Anambra, the timing could not be more apt: the state is eager to prove itself as an investment-ready destination. NACCIMA’s return after a long hiatus signals that its message may be resonating.