The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) has elected its former First Deputy President, Mr. Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe, as the 18th President of the chamber for a two-year tenure.
Onyemelukwe replaced the outgoing President, Sir Odeiga Jideonwo, after emerging unopposed at the 52nd Annual General Meeting of ECCIMA held on Thursday at the chamber’s Secretariat in Enugu.
Addressing journalists ahead of the meeting, Jideonwo expressed gratitude to members for their support during his tenure and urged the new President to consolidate on existing achievements while correcting shortcomings to elevate the chamber’s performance.
He announced that the 37th Enugu International Trade Fair would hold from March 21 to March 30, 2026, with the theme “Empowering MSMEs for Global Competitiveness.” According to him, a comprehensive roadmap and strategy for the event had already been developed, with implementation underway.
Jideonwo said marketing activities for the trade fair commenced in 2025 through multiple channels and noted growing interest from both local and international organisations.
He called on institutions, government agencies and global partners to participate actively in the fair, describing it as a deliberately structured platform designed to deliver value across all stakeholder groups.
The outgoing ECCIMA President also commended the Enugu State Government for what he described as visible and sustainable commitment to urban renewal and infrastructure development.
He cited the construction of 260 Smart Schools, major investments in road and transport infrastructure, and broader governance reforms as evidence of the administration’s dedication to efficiency and service delivery, adding that these efforts were positioning Enugu State as a competitive and business-friendly destination.
Earlier, the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Investment and Industry, Mr. Sam Nwobodo, formally declared the meeting open.
He urged ECCIMA and the wider business community to continue supporting the state government, assuring stakeholders that the administration remained open to constructive engagement and reforms.
In his acceptance speech, Onyemelukwe pledged to deepen member participation and strengthen business growth by integrating members into active sector-based business groups.
He said the chamber would prioritise digital visibility by fully activating its website to showcase members’ businesses globally, making information easily accessible to investors and partners worldwide.
According to him, the new leadership would focus on inclusiveness, innovation and practical support to ensure ECCIMA remains a strong catalyst for economic development in Enugu State and beyond.
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