By: Mukhtar Yahaya Shehu
Kano Chamber of Commerce, industry, mines and Agriculture has organized its Extraordinary General meeting, presents Annual Report and Accounts from 2021 to 2024.
In his address at the meeting held at state Trade fair complex Hall, the president of the chamber Alhaji Garba Imam said the extraordinary meeting was called inorder to present the annual report and accounts to the council’s members inline with preparation for the forthcoming of General meeting and election of the New executives.
Alhaji Garba Imam who start with the condolence to the members of the chamber, Kano state government and Nigeria at large over the death of chamber’s patron Late Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
“The Chamber will miss his guidance, Financial and moral support. May Allah bless his soul and grant him Jannatul firdaus.” Alhaji Garba Imam prays
The president said the meeting has become necessary due to a number of factors that caused delays in chamber’s governance process and compliance with the law. These include the temporary closure of the Chamber, the non-completion of audited accounts since 2021, and litigations. To bring the Chamber up to date, the Council resolved to present key items for members kind consideration.
“As you are aware, the present Council was inaugurated on August 2, 2023. Over the past 18 months, the Council has convened 18 meetings, in addition to several committee meetings. Within this period, we are proud to report the tremendous progress achieved by the Council.” The president added
Alhaji Garba Imam during the meeting highlighted some of their achievements which includes: successfully organized the 45th and 46″Kano International Trade Fairs, during which several innovations were introduced. These included free gate access, free internet services, growth in the number of international and local exhibitors, and the introduction of empowerment-oriented activities.the surplus realized from the Trade Fairs was invested in an Islamic finance banking product, Mudarabah, and as at 22 June 2025, the chamber’s bank balance stood at N81.4 million and $2,537.90.
The president further said the total value of shares also increased significantly, from N19 million in 2022 to N65.9 million as at December 2024.
The Council inherited some liabilities, all of which were verified and füły seffled
” A training and capacity-building center has been established at the chamber to support continuing development of our members and enhance revenue generation. The center was graciously furnished by the current Director General as a donation to the chamber. In terms of staff welfare, this Council has demonstrated the highest level of support. Staff salaries were reviewed upwards by 50%, and an additional 10% was added to their pension contributions. Medical and Group life insurance packages were introduced as part of staff benefits. Upon discovering that the chamber had never complied with the Pension Reform Act 2014 (as amended), the Council took swift action to register all staff as contributors and pensioners with FCMB Pension Fund. 2.2024 2024. The president said.
According to the president the Council appointed an astute executive, Sabiu Umar Yola, as Director General. A Director of Business Development, stute Officer, and an Internal Auditor were also engaged. Having found that the staff condition of Service document was written over 20 years ago, the Council commissioned a committee to review and amend it. Over 30 discrepancies were identified and corrected, and a new condition of service was approved.
“A robust and functional website, Instagram account, and several other social media handles are now fully active and under the chamber’s control. Furthermore, an in-house membership software was developed to facilitate online member registration, correspondence, and payments.
The Council also resolved a 30-year backlog of non-compliance with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Annual Return requirements by updating the records. The outstanding audited accounts will be discussed under today’s agenda, he said.
The president also explained that,In line with the spirit of continuity, the Council implemented the inherited 2021 Development Master Plan of the Trade Fair Complex. Given the high project cost and the need to protect the site, the construction of 12 blocks commenced under a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement. The construction opportunity was advertised in four national dailies, and 17 companies submitted expressions of interest (EOI), out of which 12 were selected. Under the agreed terms, developers will build and operate the shops for 30 years, after which ownership will revert to the Chamber. The annual sharing ratio of rent receivable is 70:30 between developers and the Chamber during the period of the agreement. This BOT initiative is expected to generate about N60 million annually, with progressive increases every three to five years. A thorough background check was conducted on the developers, and it was confirmed that no Council member or their family is a beneficiary of the project.
Adding that,Council submitted an estimate of 11billion for the various projects contained in the Master Plan to solicited President, Dangote Group of companies, deputy senate president Barau Jibrin and Alhaji Abubakar Kabir Bichi in a letter dated December 1st 2023 and a follow up letter dated May 19th, 2025. The chamber will continue to seek for the intervention.
The president also announced chamber Diplomatic engagement with other countries which incy visits to the embassies of Tunisia, China, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Kenya, with reciprocal visits by some embassies. As a result of strengthened ties with the Chinese Embassy, the number of visas issued to our members for the 137th Canton Fair rose from 17 to 145.
He pointed out that, Members were also granted special weekend appointments for biometric capture. Adding that New Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were executed with Pakistan, Skyline University of Nigeria and Tunisia.
In line with NACCIMA, the president said a Women Chamber of Commerce (WACCIMA) with a functional office was created at the Chamber for the advancement of women entrepreneurs a business owners in Kano State. This will enable the Women Chamber to foster partnerships with national and international organizations, accessing support directly from government and other organizations for the development of women-owned businesses.
Alhaji Garba Imam during the meeting also said KACCIMA participated in the quarterly NACCIMA meeting held in Ibadan and recently at the 65th AGM and Investiture of the new President, Engr. Jani Ibrahim, OON. A sum of N500,000 was donated to NACCIMA investiture fund, and our payment of annual dues is up to date, having cleared a three-year backlog.
The president also explained that, the Chamber has maintained a good relationship with both the Government of Kano State and the Federal Government of Nigeria towards the development of the Nigerian economy and Kano state in particular.
At the end of the meeting, the Report were received and adopted.
During the meeting, goodwill massages came from some of the chamber’s elderly people in the parson of Alhaji Isyaku Umar Tofa and Alhaji Ado Muhammad.
The two former presidents of the chamber Alhaji Ahmad Rabi’u and Alhaji Usman Darma expressed their satisfaction of the annual report and accounts presented during the meeting.
