By joshua KOCCIMA PRESIDENT RALLIES PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATORS FOR ECOWAS TRADE LIBERALIZATION WORKSHOP IN LOKOJA
The President of the Kogi State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KOCCIMA), Dr. Akerejola Demiloye, has called on private sector operators across Kogi State and the North Central geopolitical zone to seize the opportunity of the forthcoming Sensitization Workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).
The One-Day Sensitization Workshop, convened by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ECOWAS National Unit, is scheduled to hold on Monday, 2nd November, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the Glass House, Government House, Lokoja, Kogi State, under the theme: _”Harnessing the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to Promote Nigeria’s Intra-Regional Trade and Economic Growth.”
According to the invitation letter from the Ministry Ref No. ECO 33ff dated 6th October 2026, and a follow-up invitation from Kogi State Economic Council (KOSEC) Ref No. KOSEC/ADM/03/VOL.I/138 dated 8th October 2026, signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and Alternate Chairman of KOSEC, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, FCA, the workshop will be declared open with a Keynote Address by the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA.
The National President of NACCIMA, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, mni, OON, has also been invited to deliver a Goodwill Message at the event.
Dr. Demiloye said KOCCIMA is mobilizing in full force to ensure massive participation of its members and the broader private sector, including manufacturers, agricultural businesses, mining operators, traders, exporters, entrepreneurs and MSMEs.
He highlighted the immense benefits of the ETLS to include duty-free movement of qualifying products within the ECOWAS market of over 400 million people, deeper understanding of ETLS Rules of Origin, procedures for obtaining ETLS approval, documentation requirements, customs and trade facilitation measures, enhanced market access, improved industrial competitiveness and export development under both ETLS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The KOCCIMA President assured the NACCIMA President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Chamber is working resolutely to ensure that the end result benefits its members, adding that the outcome of the workshop remains unquantified in terms of trade expansion and economic growth opportunities for Kogi-based enterprises.
He urged all private sector operators in the North Central States to attend the workshop and position their businesses to take advantage of regional and continental trade opportunities.