By Joy Enamuna
All is set for the 2025 edition of the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association Annual Conference, which is expected to draw top government officials, industry regulators, and stakeholders in the trade and commerce sector.
The President of the association, Hon. Comrade Chinedu Ukatu (Ike Ndi Ahia), disclosed this in a phone conversation with Lagos Trace on Tuesday morning.
He said the conference, themed “Empowering Trade Unions for Revenue Generation and Modernisation,” will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Festival Hotel Conference Centre and Spa (formerly Golden Tulip), opposite Shoprite, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, starting at 11:00 a.m.
According to Ukatu, one of the major highlights of the event will be the celebration of winners of the recently concluded Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association football tournament held at the National Institute of Sports, Surulere, Lagos.
He explained that the conference would provide a platform for dialogue between market leaders and key government agencies on issues affecting trade and business operations in the country.
“Part of the major activities at the conference will be to celebrate the winners at the just concluded Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association football tournament which took place at the National Institute of Sports, Surulere, Lagos,” Ukatu said.
“According to him, this conference will also give us an opportunity to dialogue with the relevant government agencies in relation to our business, especially in the area of importation of goods into Nigeria.”
Ukatu noted that discussions would also cover government fiscal and monetary policies, which he said are currently posing challenges to business owners in various markets across Lagos State.
“On the issue of government fiscal and monetary policies, some of these policies are not business friendly. The present challenges at various markets in Lagos State will equally be discussed,” he added.
Expected guests at the high-profile conference include the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti; the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Yu Dunhai; and the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit.
Others are the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Patron of the Ndigboamaka Progressive Markets Association, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR); and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Akutah.
Also expected are the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye; the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Chukwunoso Okeke; and the Executive Secretary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Comrade Obinna Obichukwu, appealed to members of the association to adhere strictly to the official schedule and ensure punctuality at the event.
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