By Moses Nosike

The 2023 Inauguration Presidential Dinner of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce will be held on the 24 November, 2023 at the Eko Hotel & Suites Lagos. The high point of the event will be the launch of the SME Fund.

The chamber carries out activities targeted at the promotion of trade, investment, advocacy, business incubation, training and more between Nigeria and Britain.

Addressing the press on preparations for the event, which holds every two years, chairman of the Presidential Dinner Committee Mr Segun Akintemi said every machinery was being put in place to ensure the smooth organisation of the dinner.

Explaining further, Akintemi said, “the Inauguration Presidential Dinner of the 18th President of the Chambers Mr Ray Atelly is an event that happens once in every two years. It provides the new leadership to explain its policy direction and philosophy.

The Director-General of the NBCC, Dr Ebere Njoku said the primary function of the Chamber of Commerce was to promote trade and commerce between Nigeria and Britain. Giving a background of the organisation, the D-G said the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce was established in 1977 and in its 46 years of existence, the chamber has continually encouraged trade, commerce and investments between Nigeria and Britain.

“The Inauguration Presidential Dinner will provide an avenue to bring together members and non-members, strengthen relationships among members and admit new members.”

Continuing she said, “this chamber is affiliated to the British Chamber of Commerce which gives us access to a network of other 53 chambers across the UK and 71 over international affiliations across all sectors of the economy.”

She said that event which will be attended by movers and shakers of industries, policy makers and people from the corporate Nigeria will see the President of the chamber talk on his policy direction.

Also speaking on the dinner, a member of the Committee, Mr Tajudeen Ahmed said the occasion will be chaired by Mallam Mohammed Ahmed, Chairman Polaris Bank who doubles as chairman Society of Corporate Governance, pioneer chairman of PENCOM and a respected voice.