While I was travelling across Nigeria with Toki Mabogunje last week, she recounted how CIPE programs have benefitted two organizations she represented. As a representative of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mrs. Mabogunje attended an advocacy program hosted by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in conjunction with CIPE. She was quite affected by that program, so she wrote a report when she got back on the need for advocacy. The president of NASME at the time was impressed with the report, took it to the council, and this led to the opening of NASME’s office in Abuja, the capital. NASME began to track what the legislature does and see how it could influence some of the bills that were being presented before the house.
Mrs. Mabogunje also served on the accreditation committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce when the chamber undertook an accreditation process with CIPE and NACCIMA. Apart from tightening the Chamber’s operations and making it more efficient, the accreditation process acted as a catalyst to other reform programs which have really changed the face of the Lagos Chamber today. It’s been a way of infusing younger people, newer ideas in the council and has made the leadership more sensitive to other issues, such as women in the chamber and young people.
Toki is currently doing consulting work for CIPE and passing along some of the knowledge she acquired to other regional chambers in Nigeria.
Published Date: January 29, 2009