After two years at the helm of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and six months leading the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria, Dele Kelvin Oye has taken a bow, leaving behind a bold legacy of unprecedented growth and visionary leadership.

Since assuming office in June 2023, Oye has been at the forefront of championing private sector growth and reform in Nigeria, leveraging his vast experience, networks and expertise to drive meaningful dialogue, unlock investment opportunities and reposition NACCIMA as a key player in economic policy formulation and national development.

On his list of achievements are the unification of private sector voices under a cohesive advocacy platform, expansion of NACCIMA’s membership base, promotion of trade facilitation policies such as the Single Trade Window and successful international business missions that attracted significant investment interest in Nigeria.

Apart from running a balanced budget in the last two years, he set NACCIMA on a solid financial foundation with substantial bank balances running into several hundreds of millions, his statement said.

Known for his unifying approach, Oye brought together fragmented private sector groups, especially in his role as OPSN chair, forging cohesive policy positions that have amplified the voice of the organised private sector in national economic discourse.

In a valedictory note, Oye commended the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, leaders and members of NACCIMA, the media and other stakeholders for their support throughout his two-year reign.

Giving an overview of his tenure, Oye said; “Taking on the role of NACCIMA President on June 8, 2023, I encountered a myriad of challenges, internally and externally. At the internal level, there was unusually unhealthy competition amongst Chambers, such as economic fluctuations, regulatory hurdles, and a fragmented private sector landscape. While daunting, these challenges spurred the radical changes that our Association and its members urgently required.”

Listing key accomplishments during his tenure, he stated: “We witnessed a surge in NACCIMA’s membership, underscoring increasing confidence in our advocacy and collaborative endeavours.

“Through close collaboration with government stakeholders, we supported the government in the launching of initiatives like the campaign for the Single Trade Window Policy, aimed at enhancing trade efficiency.”