Dele Oye has stepped down from his roles as President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture and Chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria.

According to a statement from NACCIMA on Thursday, Oye exited after two impactful years at the helm of the association and six months leading the OPSN.

It stated, “Since assuming office in June 2023, Oye has been at the forefront of championing private sector growth and reform in Nigeria, leveraging his vast experience, networks, and expertise to drive meaningful dialogue, unlock investment opportunities, and reposition NACCIMA as a key player in economic policy formulation and national development.

“In his long list of achievements are the unification of private sector voices under a cohesive advocacy platform, the expansion of NACCIMA’s membership base, the promotion of trade facilitation policies such as the Single Trade Window, and successful international business missions that attracted significant investment interest in Nigeria.

“Apart from running a balanced budget in the last two years, he set NACCIMA on a solid financial foundation with substantial bank balances running into several hundreds of millions. Known for his unifying approach, Oye brought together fragmented private sector groups, especially in his role as OPSN Chair, forging cohesive policy positions that have amplified the voice of the organized private sector in national economic discourse.”

In a valedictory note reflecting on his achievements, challenges, and strategies for navigating Nigeria’s evolving business landscape, Dele Oye expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Trade and Investment Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, NACCIMA leaders and members, the media, and other stakeholders for their support during his two-year tenure.

Giving an overview of his tenure, Oye said, “Taking on the role of NACCIMA President on June 8, 2023, I encountered a myriad of challenges, internally and externally. At the internal level, there was unusual, unhealthy competition among chambers, such as economic fluctuations, regulatory hurdles, and a fragmented private sector landscape. While daunting, these challenges spurred the radical changes that our Association and its members urgently required.”

Highlighting key accomplishments during his tenure, Oye noted, “We witnessed a surge in NACCIMA’s membership, underscoring increasing confidence in our advocacy and collaborative endeavours.

“Through close collaboration with government stakeholders, we supported the government in the launch of initiatives like the campaign for the Single Trade Window Policy, aimed at enhancing trade efficiency.

“Unifying Private Sector Voices: As Chair of OPSN over the past six months, I have prioritized the creation of cohesive policy positions among various private sector groups, resulting in orderly and effective advocacy.

“Our business missions successfully showcased Nigeria as an attractive destination for investment, culminating in discussions that potential investment inflows exceeded several billion dollars.”

Oye identified challenges faced to include confronting Nigeria’s economic instability, characterised by high inflation and diminished industrial capacity.

He added, “I sought to transform these challenges into opportunities. Through constructive engagement with government entities, we facilitated the establishment of frameworks prioritising cooperation over conflict.”