The Association of Nigerian Exporters (ANE), the nation’s foremost export organization in the country, recently inaugurated a 6-member executive committee to steer its affairs in Lagos.

The Operations Manager at Palmadex Group, Dr. Patrick Omoyeni, was appointed pioneer Chairman for the Lagos state executive council in a private ceremony hosted at Palmadex House.

Also appointed to the Lagos State Executive Committee of Association of Nigerian Exporters, ANE, are Henry Nwankwo of Hencharis Company Ltd as Vice Chairman; Henry Uwem Nelson of Ini-Henson Divine Solutions Ltd as Secretary; Nnenne Azubuike of Palmadex Group as Assistant Secretary; Oludare Talabi of Talion Group as Treasurer; and Niyu Oshoma of Lilaq Limited as Council Member.

In his acceptance speech, Omoyeni after appreciating Dr. Benard Omoyeni, his brother, mentor and MD/CEO of Palmadex Group, said about his appointment ‘as the apex export advocacy organization in Nigeria, with Lagos being a major business hub in sub Saharan Africa, we have a major role to play in promoting and expanding our reach across Africa and the rest of the world.’

Saying the export ecosystem offers lots of opportunities for non-oil exporters, he added, ‘all we now need is an enabling business environment and government supports and policies that would enhance the capacity to harness all the opportunities available to us. I believe we are going very far, and from particularly from Lagos to getting the needed visibility across Nigeria and Africa. By the Grace of GOD, it’s going to be from Glory to Glory as we begin this journey of advocacy and contributing to the Nigerian improved foreign earnings and ultimately the GDP, as we know that export is the backbone of the nation’s economy.’

Speaking on the criteria for joining the association, Omoyeni emphasized on the need for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and having an export license for eligibility.

In his inaugural speech, ANE Director General, Prince Joseph Idiong noted, ‘for me it is a great privilege because this is happening in my tenure. We are at a point of revisiting and reenacting history because this is where the ANE started, Lagos, in August 1984, when farsighted businessmen decided to congregate and talk export, subsequently collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Ministry of Trade, and in July 1988, the ANE was formally incorporated with the headquarters at 135 Agege Motor Road.’

‘The Association soon moved operations and took the center-stage at the Trade Fair Complex at Badagry expressway till 1999, and in the year 2000, ANE moved to Abuja. Flagbearer companies such as Olams, British American Tobacco Company, Dangote, Nigerian Breweries, Cadbury and numerous financial institutions including Ecobank, Zenith Bank, Wema Bank had humble beginnings with the ANE.’ He disclosed.

He further charged the new executive committee to get set for the intense work ahead, as they would be the conduit for sustaining relevance in their constituency.

Idiong also urged the incoming executive committee to focus on ANE membership drive, alongside training across Lagos state.

Other notable personalities present at the executive committee inauguration include, Augustine Omoyeni, cofounder of Renamy Global; Olusola Ologun, Director of Technical Services; Uzoma Omoyeni, Director of Business Development; Kenneth Ohaegbulam, Chief Financial Officer; Frank Anyanwu, Accountant at Palmadex Group, High Chief Valentine Ojimmaduka, MD/CEO, Viroc Global Resources Ltd, Mr Ignatius Osueke of Uccon Global Services Ltd and Mr Sunday Bruce of Bruce22 Manufacturing Company Ltd.

A chartered management consultant, Omoyeni brings over a decade experience in export administration, management and operations to his new role as the ANE Chairman.

Omoyeni is also the Chief Executive Officer at Renamy Group, a company also into export, hospitality and fast moving consumer goods.

The Chief Executive Officer /Co-Founder of Fixit Nigeria, he is an alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt, Omoyeni holds an MBA in Project Management from IIC University, Cambodia and also a PhD in Strategic Management from the same University.

Omoyeni is an award winner of the highly coveted Kwame Nkrumah Transformational Leadership Award and a Hall of Famer of the African Institute of Humanities and Community Development, holds a Doctorate Degree in Humanities from the prestigious Commonwealth University, London.

He has also bagged a Doctorate in Public Administration from University of Nicosia, Cyprus, among other globally recognised certifications. He has been awarded a Street Name in Lagos to recognise his contributions to community development.

ANE has emerged as a pivotal force in advancing the nation’s export sector through dedication to empowering exporters, driving economic growth, and promoting Nigeria’s global competitiveness. .