Business leaders, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders within the Akoko business community in the Ondo North Senatorial District have formally pledged their collective support for the newly inaugurated executive of the Akoko Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (AKOKOCCIMA). The appeal for unity and cooperation was made during the chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Ikare-Akoko on Saturday, April 18, 2026, which marked the seamless transition of leadership from the outgoing President, Dr. Funmilola Williams, to the new President, Honourable Adeboro Onibalusi. The stakeholders maintained that the “stability and continuity” of the chamber are essential to repositioning the Akoko axis as a strategic hub for agribusiness and mineral development in Ondo State.
The transition signposts a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to expand the chamber’s influence within the national business network. In her valedictory remarks, the outgoing President, Dr. Funmilola Williams, highlighted several “Legacy Achievements” recorded during her tenure, including the acquisition of a permanent office accommodation in Ikare-Akoko and the successful integration of AKOKOCCIMA into the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). Supporting context indicates that the chamber has also facilitated access to crucial loans from the Bank of Industry (BoI) and various micro-loan schemes from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for its members. Dr. Williams urged the new executive to “build solidly upon the foundations already laid” and to maintain the “spirit of unity” that has sustained the organization since its inception.
Stakeholder reactions to the new leadership have been characterized by a high level of institutional backing. The National Vice President of NACCIMA, Basorun Olugbemiga Araoyinbo, who also serves as the Deputy President of the Odua Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ODUACCIMA), expressed satisfaction with the “professional and transparent” handover process. He assured the new President, Honourable Adeboro Onibalusi, that AKOKOCCIMA would continue to receive “backup support” from both the regional and national chambers for its programs. Similarly, Mrs. Modupe Olakunle, a former President of the Ondo State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONDOCCIMA), lauded the “exemplary sacrifice” of the outgoing administration and urged all members to provide the “financial and moral support” needed for the chamber to reach greater heights.
Economic and regional analysts observe that the “AKOKOCCIMA Leadership Shift” is a strategic move to align the chamber with the “industrialization drive” of the Ondo State government. Experts suggest that the new President’s focus on an “aggressive membership drive” and the organization of a “Trade Fair to showcase Akoko produce” is timely, given the region’s vast agricultural potential in cocoa, cashews, and food crops. They argue that AKOKOCCIMA must serve as a “pressure group” to lobby for improved road infrastructure and “security for farmers” to ensure the viability of the local economy. Analyst Dr. Olusegun Ogundimo noted that “the Akoko axis is a gateway to the North,” and a functional chamber of commerce is the “engine room” that will drive the processing and exportation of local products.
The broader implications of this stakeholders’ rally point toward a “reinvigorated business climate” in Northern Ondo. By securing the endorsement of prominent figures such as the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Tokunbo Kayode (SAN), whose contributions to the chamber were specifically lauded during the AGM, the new leadership has gained the “political capital” required to drive major reforms. The planned partnerships with relevant federal and state agencies are expected to create “new market linkages” for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region. As Honourable Adeboro Onibalusi begins his term, the focus remains on the “scalability of the proposed trade fair” and the “efficiency of the loan facilitation” processes. For the traders and industrialists of Akoko, the new leadership represents a promise of “inclusive growth and global visibility.”
