By Lucy Ogalue
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is partnering with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), to promote businesses and enhance media coverage of commercial activities across the country.
The Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, said this when a delegation from ACCI visited him on Wednesday in Abuja.
The delegation was led by Dr Tinuke Temitope, the Director of ACCI Business Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre.
Ali welcomed the team and emphasised the partnership’s importance for fostering growth in the business sector through enhanced media visibility.
The managing director reiterated NAN’s wide reach, saying that the agency, with more than 1,200 offices across Nigeria and 11 international bureaus, was the largest news content provider on the African continent.
He assured the ACCI that NAN was committed to providing comprehensive coverage of business events, including the chamber’s upcoming international trade fair and golf tournament.
“We are a global brand, working with international partners such as Reuters, APL, Xinhua, Russian and Moroccan News agencies, and recently, the Saudi Press Agency.
This partnership would allow us to attract more attention to the Nigerian business community and showcase their contributions both locally and internationally,” Ali said.
He praised the ACCI’s leadership, describing it as a driving force in the Nigerian business sector, led by intellectuals who have brought fresh perspectives to commerce.
According to him, the chamber’s efforts have elevated the standards of business practices in Abuja and beyond.
Ali reaffirmed NAN’s readiness to support all ACCI projects, pledging that the agency would provide in-depth coverage of all ACCI-organised events and continue to be a key partner in promoting Nigerian businesses to a global audience.
Earlier, the head of the ACCI delegation thanked the NAN Managing director for giving the team an audience at such short notice.
Temitope said the essence of the visit was to seek the agency’s partnership in advocating the growth of its members’ businesses.
“We are proposing a media partnership with NAN based on our activities.
“The chamber has devised an activity; we call it Business Meets Golf. The objective of this activity is to promote our members, especially our corporate members.
“It is meant to find a place whereby work, business and players can meet.
“We are looking at having a golf tournament, which we are proposing the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to be our number one media partner,” she said.
According to her, the event, which will be held from Oct. 18 to Oct.19, will allow members and participants to discuss business matters.
“It will be a platform to discuss a variety of business opportunities, and we invite other business owners to participate. So, we will need your support, partnership, and publicity.
“On Oct. 19, we will be having a dinner and awards ceremony, whereby people that have excelled in the golf field, our sponsors, and partners will be recognised,” she said.
Temitope solicited for NAN’s partnership for the 19th edition of the Abuja International Trade Fair, scheduled for Sept. 20.
“We are also using this opportunity to seek a partnership, promote, be part of this event, and see more of the activities that the Abuja Chamber of Commerce does.
“To promote businesses within FCT and out of FCT. And to support us in getting the word out there so that more businesses can take advantage of these opportunities.
“Beyond existing businesses, the Chamber is passionate about growing new businesses.
” So, we want more people to come into entrepreneurship and the business environment through your publicity,” she said.
NAN reports that Temitope was accompanied on the visit by Dr Chidiebere Onwumere, the Executive Director of the National Policy Advocacy Centre (NPAC).
Other officers in the delegation are Mr Emmanuel Adedeji, Member, and Mrs Olayemi John-Mensah, ACCI Media/Strategy Officer. (NAN)