Developments in the Foreign exchange aspect of the economy and its impart on the local industries will take the center stage at the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria, CICAN, 2021 workshop and awards.

The event will take place on Thursday 16, December, 2021 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.

The workshop with the theme ” Impact of Forex crisis on the Real sector & MSMEs ” will attract economic experts and captains of industry in the manufacturing , SMEs , financial institutions in the country.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen over the weekend in Lagos, by the Chairman Planning Committee of CICAN Barnabas Eshiet and signed by the Chairman of the association, Mr. Charles Okonj.

It stated that the event will begins 4pm.

The statement disclosed that Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, and Immediate Past Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( LCCI) Dr Muda Yusuf will be the guest speaker at the event, which will center on the impact of the scarcity of FX on the country’ s manufacturing industry in particular and the economy at large.

The statement added that distinguish captains of industry and outstanding individuals will receive the CICAN’s prestigious award for their great performance.

The statement stated that some of the awardees include his Royal Highness, Igwe  Chris Oranus , the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) Kris  Oral Group of Companies,  Malinson Afam Ukatu , The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Nipson, whose firm pioneers  tiles production  in Nigeria,  Mr. George Onafowokan, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) Coleman Wires & Cables, who is been recognize for the great strides of his firm in wires and cables manufacturing and Engr. Bede Egwu Obayi, FNSE

Director, National Metrology Institute, SON, for his passion for standards compliance.

The statement added that Mrs Zaheera Baba- Ari, who is the Managing Director of Nigeria Commodities Exchange and the current Commissioner of Agriculture of Ogun State who have done much for agriculture sector of Ogun State are some of the other awardees.

It noted that institutions like Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture ( NACCIMA) who have had sustainable partnership with CICAN for three decades, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria ( MAN) who has consistently use it’s advocacy roles to champion the cause of the country’s manufacturers are also to be recognized at the occasion.

The statement that the panelists include Igwe Chris Oranus, Mr Malinson Afam Ukatu,  Mr George Onofowokan and the Director General of NACCIMA , Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni.

It would be recalls that recently, the manufacturers umbrella body told the world that they are unable to access up to 20 per cent of it’s FX needs from the local banks which the Central Bank of Nigeria designated for the purpose.

It will be recalls that CICAN is the best association that report and analyse the country’s commerce, industry and the SMEs sector.

Over the years, the association used every December to bring together captains of industry, manufacturers, SMEs operators, financial institutions players and the media and other experts to discuss topical issues confronting the Real and SMEs sector, the statement concluded.