OPSN Endorses CICAN 2026 National Workshop, Pledges Support

The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has endorsed the 2026 National Workshop of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), pledging its support for efforts to improve the country's business environment, promote industrial development and accelerate economic growth.

The endorsement, involving leading business organisations representing manufacturers, employers, chambers of commerce and small and medium-scale enterprises, underscores the importance of collaboration between the media and the private sector in addressing challenges confronting Nigerian businesses.

The CICAN National Workshop is scheduled to hold on November 19, 2026, at Protea Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. It is expected to bring together policymakers, business leaders, regulators, financial experts, development practitioners and media professionals to deliberate on critical issues affecting commerce, industry, investment and enterprise development.

The endorsement was conveyed by key stakeholders within the organised private sector, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE).

Among the industry leaders associated with the endorsement are NACCIMA National President, Engr. (Dr.) Jani Ibrahim; LCCI President, Engr. Leye Kupoluyi; MAN President, Dr. Ifeanyi Eric Okoye; NECA Director-General, Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde; and CPPE Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muda Yusuf.

The workshop is expected to provide a platform for discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing Nigerian enterprises, particularly manufacturers, small and medium-scale businesses, employers and investors, with a focus on identifying practical solutions for sustainable economic growth.

In a joint press statement signed by CICAN National Chairman, Comrade Taiwo Hassan, and Secretary-General, Comrade Olufemi Orioye, the association expressed appreciation to the organised private sector for its confidence in the association and its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote meaningful engagement between journalists and the business community.

Hassan described the media as a critical partner in disseminating economic information, explaining government policies, highlighting business challenges and holding stakeholders accountable for their contributions to national development.

He said professional business journalism remained important to ensuring that business operators, investors and the wider public were adequately informed about economic developments and policy decisions affecting the operating environment.

According to him, CICAN will continue to promote responsible business reporting and create platforms for dialogue among the government, private sector and other stakeholders to advance Nigeria's economic interests.

The National Chairman added that the association's commitment to professional journalism would be sustained through initiatives that encourage informed public discourse on policies affecting commerce, industry and investment.

Similarly, Orioye commended members of OPSN for endorsing the workshop, describing the support as an important boost to CICAN's efforts to strengthen relations between commerce and industry correspondents and the organised business community.

He said the association was committed to ensuring that the workshop generated practical ideas, policy recommendations and collaborative opportunities capable of improving the operating environment for Nigerian businesses.

Orioye also stressed the importance of sustained cooperation between journalists and private-sector organisations in promoting transparency, improving public understanding of economic reforms and drawing attention to the contributions of businesses to employment generation, investment and national prosperity.

The involvement of the organised private sector is expected to strengthen discussions at the workshop, particularly on the policy and structural issues that influence the performance of Nigerian enterprises.

Manufacturers and other businesses continue to operate in an environment where production costs, access to finance, infrastructure, energy supply, taxation and regulatory requirements are important considerations for investment and competitiveness. The workshop is therefore expected to offer stakeholders an opportunity to examine these issues and explore approaches that could support enterprise growth.

For small and medium-scale enterprises, discussions on access to funding, business regulation, market opportunities and the cost of operations are particularly relevant, given their role in entrepreneurship, job creation and economic activity.

The participation of business associations representing different segments of the private sector is also expected to broaden the range of perspectives available to policymakers and other participants.

Beyond reporting economic developments, business journalists play a role in examining the implementation of government policies, communicating the concerns of enterprises and providing the public with information needed to understand the implications of economic decisions.

CICAN's engagement with OPSN and its constituent organisations is expected to strengthen this relationship by encouraging regular interaction between journalists and business leaders on issues affecting Nigeria's economic development.

The association expressed optimism that the endorsement would contribute to the success of the November 19 workshop and deepen its engagement with stakeholders across the commerce and industrial sectors.

It added that the ultimate objective was to promote constructive dialogue and generate ideas that could contribute to a more supportive business climate, stronger industrial capacity and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.