…As Editorial Board Presents Award Nomination Letter
…Says PH International Trade Fair To Hold December 6 – 20
As preparations for the 18th Anniversary celebration of National Network newspaper reach crescendo, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA), Eze (Sir) Mike Elechi has lauded the giant strides attained by the newspaper and described it as a product of hard work and professionalism.
Speaking when the Editorial Board of National Network paid a courtesy visit to the PHACCIMA boss as well as deliver his nomination letter as Outstanding Company Executive and Best PHACCIMA President in his office in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Eze Elechi said National Network has become what he called, ‘the readers delight’, due to the quality of its information dissemination, adding that he as well as the reading public hold the paper in very high esteem.
He told the team who was also accompanied on the visit by National Network Publisher, Pastor Jerry Needam, that he considers himself as part and parcel of the paper haven been an avid reader of the tabloid since its inception in 2004.
The PHACCIMA President expressed delight at the nomination of the twin award and promised to step up effort and do more since, according to him, his service is unto God and humanity.
He particularly praised the Publisher; Pastor Jerry Needam whom he said had remained a personal friend and brother right from his days as Permanent Secretary in the civil service, for his relentlessness, journalistic prowess and consistency in business despite daunting challenges.
On his delve into the shores of business, he said as is customary, he should have remained at home as a retiree but chose to do otherwise.
“As it pleased God, I never waited to be retired, rather, I retired by walking away and not waiting for the age of retirement, because there is a tag to retirement.
“Once you get retired, you are looked at as a retired man. So, I opted for voluntary retirement, and went into farming, and that changed my orientation”, he explained.
Eze Elechi, a titled Chief in Ikwerre land, said he also chose to reside in the farm, so as he put it, “aI won’t retire until I die, as farming has become part and parcel of my life”, adding that he in a sense is retired but not tired.
He explained that the Chamber of Commerce is a non governmental organization, and that they are not limited by shares.
He said the Chamber lives by the benevolent support from members including the periodic dues.
“The public also helps by donating their expertise. But the Chamber build people, how? As an organization of business men and women, we offer training.
“We want to change the narrative by stopping indolence among the youths. This issue of sharing money in communities and causing problems everywhere is not helping us.
“We train people in all areas, agriculture value chain, technology, industry, commerce and so on”, he said
Sir Elechi also disclosed that his company, students on Industrial Training.
“Here, we don’t do it like the conventional practice in companies. The conventional practice now is that students just go and collect signed papers and leave. They’ve done their IT! Here, we train and toughen them, and when they are through, we vouch for their competence”, he said.
Urging people of various trades to register with the Chamber, he disclosed that PHACCIMA is the second largest and oldest premier Chamber in the country after Lagos.
“There are lots of incentives coming here. As we speak, members are in Taiwan, and some are in Turkey and Paris. There are always business journeys and exhibitions around the world”, he said.
Sir Elechi disclosed that the Port Harcourt International Trade Fair would hold in Port Harcourt from the 6th to 20th October, 2922 and urged the public to attend.
Speaking earlier, while presenting the award nomination letter, the General Manage/Editor in chief of National Network newspaper, Mr. Chris Konkwo congratulated the PHACCIMA boss for winning public confidence in the poll which was conducted online.
Mr. Konkwo who spoke on behalf of staff and management said the emergence of Sir Elechi in the poll was a thing of joy to the National Network family who considered the PHACCIMA boss a bonafide member of the publishing outfit.
