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The newly elected President, Nigerian- British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Mr Abimbola Olashore, says he will be committed to improve trade and bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Olashore made the assertion during the NBCC Annual General Meeting (AGM) where he emerged as the chamber’s 19th president on Thursday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that trade volume between both countries as at the last quarter of 2024 stood at £7.2 billion.
Olashore stated that trade was at the forefront of his mandate and expectations going forward.
He said his emergence as the president was a call to duty to take the NBCC forward on its already successful journey.
He pledged to create balance within the chamber by re-establishing the British side, with emphasis to make sure the British end was well represented.
“I would also try to improve the chamber’s membership by emphasising membership benefits and making members see the NBCC as the first port of call in matters of trade,” he said.
Olashore restated the NBCC’s commitment to advocating on behalf of the Nigerian- British business community to both governments and act as the bridge to facilitate trade between both countries.
The outgoing President, NBCC, Mr Ray Atelly, said one of the deepest sources of pride under his administration was the creation and rapid growth of the NBCC- Women and Youth Entrepreneurship Development Centre (WYEDC).
He said the NBCC -WYEDC was conceived as a platform to equip Nigerian women and youth with practical skills, business knowledge, and the mindset to innovate and persist.
Atelly said the centre had become a true engine of transformation.
He said by the end of 2025, the centre aims to have trained 500+ beneficiaries through vocational and digital enterprise programmes and develop a mobile training model to reach underserved rural communities.
“NBCC-WYEDC stands today as a leading light for sustainable economic inclusion, place where skills meet purpose, and where Nigerian women and youth are not just trained, but truly transformed,” he said.
Atelly added that his tenure took steps to strengthen bilateral ties via trade missions and investment diplomacy.
“Trade remains the lifeblood of this NBCC and this administration made it a mission to not just maintain, but elevate our trade promotion activities.
“We proved, yet again, that the chamber is not merely an observer of trade, but an active facilitator of commerce and collaboration.
“Today, as I look back on the journey, I see not perfection, but progress in a greener, healthier headquarters, hundreds of youth and women empowered, expanded trade diplomacy and cultural collaboration.
“I also see a community council, committees, staff, partners and members who chose collaboration over isolation, and vision over comfort.
“For this, and for the honour to serve, I say thank you and say that may the NBCC’s bridges remain strong, its voice louder, and its impact deeper for generations to come,” Atelly said.
