In furtherance to the activation of it business continuity strategies, Odua Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ODUACCIMA) participated actively in the regional virtual meeting tagged, COVID PANDEMIC: Western Nigeria Economic Outlook 2020-2022, recently organised by DAWN Commission.

The focus of the virtual meeting as expressed by the Director General of DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye was “to come up with southwest strategic economic solutions that must be evidenced in the next 18 months bearing in mind the current fall in the price of oil globally with effect on Nigeria revenue”.

ODUACCIMA president, Chief Kola Akosile who was among the 68 participants, highlighted the strategic position of the Chambers of Commerce as an important stakeholder with adequate structure and systems for grassroot economic implementation.

Distinguished guest speakers who participated in the meeting include Dr. Doyin Salami, Seun Onigbinde, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Opeyemi Agbaje, while Dr. Olusade Taiwo acted as moderator.

Other prominent participants including but not limited to Honourable Commissioners of Finance of the six southwest states, Honourable Commissioners of Economic Planning and Budget of the six states, Representative of DFID, National Planning Commission, GMD Odu’a Investment and other key economic experts in the region.

ODUACCIMA President, Chief Kola Akosile, who was represented at the virtual meeting by the DG, David Awotipe, re-emphasised the critical role of ODUACCIMA as the leader of Organised Private Sector (OPS) in the region and canvassed for the following:

i) Western region to implement her economic policies through the Chamber movement who are the real business owners and movers of the economy.

ii) Agriculture funding should be given priority across the region and to be duly implemented through the Chambers of Commerce who are known to be accountable, thereby focusing commercialized farming or Agribusiness.

iii) Government to reactivate Produce Boards to ensure sales of excess farm produce and encourage creation of offtakers agreements.

iv) Public Private Partnerships (PPP) should be encouraged to fix infrastructure deficit in the region.

The conversation concluded by highlighting the critical and important roles of the Southwest Governors to ensure post- covid food security, while the organizers also resolved to come up with more engagement sessions such as this so as to salvage and ameliorate the economic effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic with the active involvement of ODUACCIMA as a major stakeholder.