It was all pomp and pageantry at the 2022 Annual Presidential Dinner and Awards of the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), a signature event of the Chamber which took place at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites which was graced by partners and Members of the Chamber, dignitaries and eminent personalities. The event which celebrates excellence in the Nigerian business space while providing a platform to foster UK-Nigerian bilateral relationship had as Chairman of the occasion Bola Adesola, Chairman Ecobank Nigeria and Bolaji Balogun, Chief Executive, Chapel Hill Denham as Guest Speaker.
In her welcome address, Bisi Adeyemi, President & Chairman of Council appreciated all Chamber Members and especially the premium category for their support through the years. Detailing milestones achieved; “The year 2022 has been a remarkable one for us all at the Chamber, as we achieved some milestones. A major highlight was the graduation of the first cohort of the NBCC Tech Academy which was launched this time last year. This was made possible with the support of our sponsors and partners. In particular, I recognize the significant support received from PwC Nigeria”.
Other achievements were the addition of 2 new sectoral groups (Tech and Creatives/Cultural Groups), The hosting of a successful 2-day Conference & Exhibition – now to be held biennially, Advocacy series Podcast Launch amongst many others.
The Chairman of the occasion, Bola Adesola, in her opening remarks went down memory lane recalling her interactions with the NBCC President over the years and how overjoyed she was at the numerous giant strides she has so far taken and the achievements recorded. She also emphasized the imperative of having more women in leadership positions.
In a moving and engaging letter titled “Dear Mr President”, the Guest Speaker at the occasion, Bolaji Balogun took a deep-dive deep into the nation’s myriad of problems and how best they can be addressed by the future President of Nigeria.
The evening was not complete without the recognition and presentation of awards to organisations and individuals that have been exemplary and supported the activities of the Chamber. Included among the corporate recipients were Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the British Deputy High Commission (BDHC) to mention a few.
Concluding the evening in his vote of thanks, Vice President and Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee Akin Osuntoki, appreciated the Guest Speaker, the Chairman of the Occasion, as well as all the Sponsors namely Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Bank of Industry (BOI), Custodian Life Assurance Ltd, Banwo & Ighodalo, Cruxstone Development & Investment Limited, Wema bank, First bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and NAHCO.
