The Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SL) Ltd was incorporated on 27th January 2014 as a company limited by guarantee.
The company is organized exclusively for charitable purposes in general and more specifically for the protection of its members’ interests which are largely Nigerian businesses operating in Sierra Leone. Before the incorporation there was no common platform under which Nigerian businesses in Sierra Leone could look up to for assistance and direction except the Nigeria/ Sierra Leone joint commission put in place to enhance cooperation between Nigeria and Sierra Leone in the areas of:
-Economic cooperation.
-Investments
-Commerce
-Industry
-Education
-Security.
But these were Government led initiatives without the involvement of the Private sector who had no representation at the forum. As such, their interests were neither canvassed nor represented.
At the instigation and under the auspices of the Nigerian High Commission in Sierra Leone, the company was incorporated with membership expected to be drawn from all the sectors of Nigerian Businesses in Sierra Leone but that was not to be as while still being in the process of membership drive, the company was beset with problems arising from the outbreak of Ebola in the Country leading to a suspension of the activities as so many of the operators fled the country. As the problems and challenges of Nigerian businesses in Sierra Leone still remained unresolved, the Nigerian High Commission intervened to inspire the stake holders for a resuscitation of the Chamber of Commerce by the constitution of a committee to serve as the Interim Board. The work of the committee now over with the appointment of members and the recruitment of a permanent staff to oversee the day to day operations of the Chamber into the Board, the committee is dissolved and a new Board is now in place. There is therefore, the need for this strategic plan to guide the operations of the Chamber of Commerce for the period 2019-2022 .
The Chambers office is currently located at the Nigeria High Commission but would soon be moved to share the same building with NIDO at New Englan
The present membership of the Association comprises:
- Corporate bodies
- Sole proprietorships from the Informal sector
These are drawn from all the sectors of the economy in Sierra Leone like Banking, Commerce, Manufacturing, Industry, Services, Financial Services, Hospitality and Tourism, Transportation and Aviation, Mining, oil and gas ,Construction and Agriculture.
Membership is categorized as follows:
-Corporate Members
-Ordinary members
-Associate members
– Patrons
The general policy direction of the Chamber of Commerce is undertaken by a Board of Directors of 12 members while the day to day management of the Chamber is handled by a Chief Executive Officer supported by some other staff. There would also be adhoc and standing Committees in place to handle certain tasks like Membership Committee, Audit Committee, Funds mobilization Committee, Disputes Resolution Committee, Policy Advocacy Committee, Trade Fair and Exhibitions Committee etc.
“To promote business interest of the Chamber’s members and to strengthen economic, business and investment ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone”.
The Chamber’s objectives consist of the following:
- To protect the interest of Nigerian business Communities in Sierra Leone.
- To serve as a first point of call for Nigerians desirous of investing or doing business in Sierra Leone.
- To address bilateral trade, commerce, industry and agriculture issues affecting Nigerian owned businesses in Sierra Leone.
- To identify available training facilities on relevant subjects and disseminate same to members with a view to enhancing the work force and productivity of their staff.
- To promote effective trading and investment environment between Nigeria and Sierra Leone on the one hand and West African trading block on the other.
- To serve as a body for policy advocacy and to represent the views of and where necessary negotiate on behalf of members in dealing with official and other bodies in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
- To self regulate the activities of members on matters relating to trade, investments, industry and agriculture between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
- To promote the inflow of FDI from Nigeria into Sierra Leone and Vice Versa
- To strengthen capacity of members and persons in the Formal and informal sectors.
- To strengthen ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone
- To promote business interests of the Chambers membership
- To promote twining of business ventures between the two countries for the purpose of strengthening knowhow and capacity building.
- To affiliate with similar bodies for the purpose of promoting the Chamber’s ideals.
- To organize Trade Fairs, Study Tours, Trade Missions and trade links for the benefit of members
- To conduct trade, market, industry, financial and agricultural research for the benefit of its members.
- To engage in publication of reports concerning trade, markets, industry and agriculture for the general use of members and the wider public
- To organize fundraising for enhancing the Chamber’s capacity to carry out its numerous activities.
- To engage in nonprofit activities aimed at promoting better business environment and harmony amongst its members and the wider community
- To work with the Nigeria High Commission, NIDO and other Government organs in strengthening the socio-economic ties between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
- To publish books, journals, magazines, videos, films and other such promotional materials in support of the Chamber’s mandate.
- To use the mass media for promoting the business interests of its members without infringing on the rights of any person including the wider society
- To engage in sporting activities as may be necessary for the purpose of promoting good business relations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone including other countries- especially in West Africa
- To engage in philanthropic activities on behalf of the Chamber in support of the business and wider communities of Nigerians and Sierra Leoneans.
- To provide advisory services for members and other publics in areas of trade, commerce, industry and agriculture
- To coordinate, facilitate and manage the implementation of values, vision, mission standards and systems of the Chamber of Commerce
- To raise funds, procure contributions by way of subscriptions, donations, grants, devise, bequests, bids, auctions, charity dinners, private fund raisers parties, festivals, artistic or theatrical performances, or proceeds from or contribution in any other manner to the funds of the Chamber of Commerce.
- To work with, lobby and seek support from individuals, communities, companies, organisations and government towards a sustainable and vibrant development in the business of trade and industry
- To raise funds in such manner as may be determined by the Directors from time to time including but not limited to commercial trading activities, donations, grants and fund raising events and in doing so must comply with any relevant statutory regulations
- To lend money to such persons or organisations and on such terms as may seem expedient and to guarantee the performance of contracts or obligations by any such persons or associations or organisations.
- To establish, operate and maintain self-supporting training and development programs for the benefit of members.
- To borrow money where necessary to protect any of the objects set out and to secure repayment of such borrowed monies by the issue of debenture charge upon all or any of the assets of the Chamber or of its revenue, present or future.
- To organize scholarships and awards and to give prizes certificates and diplomas to persons who are or have been students instructed or examined by or the direction of the Chamber.
- To apply, petition for or promote any law or other Authority with a view to furthering any of the objects of the Association.
- To organize economic and investments summit for the purpose of giving visibility to the Chamber of Commerce and providing benefit to its members.
- To carry out asset management services for the purpose of collateralization of transactions in letters of Comfort or guarantees provided to enhance the businesses of deserving members.
In pursuance of these objectives, the Association shall perform the following functions:
- It shall foster the exchange of ideas and experiences in trade and commerce mainly by organizing seminars, workshops, conferences, training courses and meetings periodically;
- It shall organize trade fairs periodically to advance the interest of its members.
- It shall put in place and implement trade Facilitation facilities for the benefit of its members
- The offer of business advisory service to its members
- It shall from time to time engage in dispute resolution regarding trade conflicts between its members
- It shall ensure the publication of a periodic magazine containing information that would be beneficial to its members
- It shall undertake all such activities and explore all such avenues that it deems necessary for the achievement of its objectives;
- In the exercise of its functions, the Chamber shall endeavor to create and maintain normal relations with national or international organisations having similar or related objectives particularly the Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria and Sierra Leone
Programme | Goal (s) | Strategies |
1. Extra Ordinary and Annual General Meetings.
| Hold all Statutory and operational meetings to deliberate on the programmes of the Chamber and the Annual report of activities for the year. | Ensure adequate preparations and make documents available to members at least two weeks before the meetings. |
2. Training and Education | To Educate members on the contemporary issues regarding trade. To run training courses to bridge the knowledge gap existing amongst staff of members to improve on their competencies. | Draw up a program schedule and follow up to achieve it. To hold fee paying training Courses at least once a month. To hold free courses for members in areas such as Business Ethics and Etiquette, Basic Communication Skills, Basics of ETLS Process |
3. Coordinating and Monitoring of Compliance with Governance Standard by members. | To ensure that all members adopt Governance principles as part of corporate strategy.
| Hold seminars on subject matter Award for members that meets governance standards and Key performance indicators in their operations. |
4. Membership development and strengthening income flow from Subscriptions | There is no need proselytizing. Add Value to members and they will register in large numbers and increase flow of funds. | Embark on aggressive drive for membership with the support of the Membership Committee. Hold capacity building seminars from time to time. Create a database and enlist members. Provide them all the services as listed and always feed them with information on contemporary issues . |
5. Creating and Development of Website | To transform the website as a library on major developments in trade And commerce. Provide up-to –date information on issues relating to trade. Use the site to add value to the business of members. | Work closely with our web master to ensure daily update of data and information.
Provide link to relevant national,regional and international allied institutions |
6. Creation of Trade Facilitation Facilities | Work towards the actualization of the Facilities for Benefit of members | Work with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, NACCIMA, NEPC and the Development Banks to actualize this. |
7. Resource Mobilisation | Generate at least 60% of revenue through programmes/activities other than Membership subscription and grants This will increase to 15% annually as from 2020 and 30% by 2021 | Undertake income generating activities and publications: 1. Trade Fairs 2. Fee paying Training programmes 3. Implementation of Trade Facilitation Facility. 4. Fund raising dinners 5. Donations 6. Provision of legal services for informal sector 7. Aid members in procuring Visa 8. Aid members in registration of businesses 9. Provide business Advisory services to members
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8.Publication of Chamber Directory Directory | Create a Directory of members with a database of the products they offer or what service they render | Liaise with the registered members to collect information for update and publish by end of June 2019 |
9.Research and Development | To create a centralized database of researched information for publication | Produce a web enabled centralized database on trade information with password restriction open to members. |
10. Creating Visibility for the Chamber
11.Entrenching Policy Advocacy roles
| Create a periodic forum for interaction amongst operators in the Industry
To express and represent the Interest of members | Organise a forum on Investment and Trade and invite experts to brain storm with a lot of media publicity. The proposed Economic and Investment Summit should be actualised with speakers drawn for Nigeria and Sierra Leone
The Chamber of Commerce should start attending the meetings of the Nigeria Sierra Leone Joint Commission
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12.Publication of the Magazine for the Chamber | Publish on topical issues as well as interviews of captains of industry in the various sectors on their success secrets | Ensure that the magazine is published periodically. |
For the Chamber to be effective in carrying out its mandate and sustain its relevance as an important body, the following critical success factor should be present:
- Ability to Add Value to the Operations of Members.
- Committed Committee members.
- Prompt payment of annual subscriptions.