BBA/ICC: Odogwu Presents Two Years Scorecard as BoT, Traders Hail Leadership

*BoT Chair, Ezeibe Announces Elections for Next Year

*Odogwu Introduces ‘Lift 5 Members Policy’ from 2026

*Fidelity Announces N10bn Special Loan Scheme for BBA Traders

*Chief Ifeanyi Okwuma Replaces Late Ugbala as BoT Scribe

*Jeff Ekejuba, CC Chukwumaeze, Speak on BBA Progress

The Balogun Business Association (BBA), owners of the largest International Centre for Commerce (ICC) inside Lagos International Trade Fair complex, Badagry Expressway, on Thursday held their 2025 Annual Association Rally at the popular Chief Alex Obi Odunukwe Square with excitement and messages of hope from both the President, Chief Oscar Ikechukwu Odogwu and BoT Chairman, Chief Okey Ezeibe.

In his welcome address, the president, Chief Odogwu took time to go down memory lane in pointing out all his strategic reforms introduced in the last two years of his administration and how the reforms have reshaped and changed the hitherto bad face of the market for the interest of every members.

He made it clear that his government came to change the old bad ways of poor governance without touching the lives of members and the market itself.

Excited Odogwu recalled that his administration started with removing illegal structures and freeing the motorways and walkways for ease of doing business.

While pointing out that cases of illegal sales of open spaces are no more possible in BBA, he made it officially clear that no administration even after him, will be able to sell the Alex Obi Square and the open space opposite Lagos and Katsina Plazas.

Continuing, he revealed that upon his Executive Council were greeted with humongous inherited debts running into millions of Naira when elected, including those owed NEPA and the management Board, LAWMA and so many others. He was happy to announce that “Today, we have cleared off all the debt and we, Balogun Business Association is owing nobody even banks and private individuals. Go and verify”. This was followed by massive applause from the members.

He reminded members that his administration has effectively changed the faces of all major entrance gates of the market in partnership with some good-hearted members who did it for free for the growth of the market.

However, the excited President was quick to add that a new one-decking Security House is coming up very soon at the main gate for the betterment of the BBA/ICC.

On the BBA relationship with government agencies, he decried the stoning of NAFDAC enforcement team few weeks ago when they came for their official duties and called on members to forthwith desist from such image tarnishing act capable of forcing the Federal government to shut down our market.

According to him, every federal government agency has the constitutional right to storm the market any time for their duties and therefore it is very needless to fight them. He warned that any more of that will be met with stiff penalties both from the association and even the government.

He was quick to make it clear to them that the enforcement of NAFDAC is simply from petitions written by our members whose products are being adulterated and counterfeited and not spirits.

On the recent youth’s demonstrations against obnoxious rent and agent fees by real estate shylocks in BBA, he announced that the Executive Council will next year come up with a clear policy that will moderate real estate sector of business in BBA for smooth and easy access to shops and plazas.

Before he concluded his address, he announced a new policy of his administration he called ‘Lift 5 Members Policy’, which he said is being designed to lift their members out of poverty using a simple means by well-to-do amongst them in the market.

Explaining more in a one-on-one interview with Business Hilights, Odogwu revealed that “the ‘Lift 5 Members Policy’ came to my mind as a way of helping out some of us that are not doing much in business due to the fact that they are doing business with very little capital”.

“The new policy is very simple and straight for the haves in our mix. I want many of us God has blessed to look around them, and reach out to the very small business operators and inject free fund into their business so that they can expand their business offerings and in the process get out of poverty line. The support I mean will be free. I know that we have many that can lift even more than five, but the policy will start with five from next year.

The President assured that he will kick start by himself in 2026 so that others will follow him to lift many of BBA members from poverty FREELY.

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Before giving way for the officials of Fidelity Bank to speak, he thanked BBA for their support in his administration and assured to do more come next year.

Speaking on behalf of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Richard Madiebo, General Manager, Public Sector Solutions at Head Office of the Bank, who led other officials of the bank to address BBA at their 2025 Annual Rally Day, said his bank has been the highest supporter of BBA and will continue to do so in future. He listed some of the things the bank has done for BBA to include but not limited to supplying two new cars, rebuilding the main gate when it has issues and supporting businesses with seamless banking products over the years.

He made a particular revelation that his bank has approved a new special loan facility of N10bn for BBA members and each beneficiary can get up to N50m. He said the loan is a revolving one which means that as people are getting they are repaying so that others can equally benefit.

Before the bank gave way for the BoT chairman’s remarks, two of their staff took turns to explain critical issues arising from the new tax reforms of the federal government and assured that the bank will set up a Tax Help Desk next year to handle issues coming from the new policy for BBA members.

In his applause-arousing speech, the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Okey Ezeibe said the Board has been following the current leadership with special interest and have discovered that the government has not derailed in all its set objectives.

While congratulating the Oscar Odogwu led-government in BBA, he rolled out some of the critical decision taken by BoT for the progress of BBA.

He advised members to always explore internal arbitration panels before rushing out to courts, saying BoT in partnership with the Executive Council has literarily settled every case except one which it is still working on now.

He announced the appointment of Chief Ifeanyi Okwuma as replacement for the departed Secretary of the BoT, late Chief Ugballa.

Chief Ezeibe announced that no form or kind of construction work will be allowed inside BBA during the yuletide when the market will be under keys to avoid errors and bad stories that touch the heart.

On security, he said BoT is very happy that cases of burglary and breaking of shops are no more due to new security architecture introduced by Odogwu administration.

Before he took his seat, he announced that 2026 is election year in BBA and that new government from the election will be sworn in in 2027.

Chief Ezeibe also advised BBA members who are to travel home to come back with Trade Apprentices (Umu Boi) as so many of them who are freed this year will be settled, saying the culture remain the symbol of Igbo business ingenuity till tomorrow. He also made it clear that time has come for people to stop tagging Trade Fair markets and BBA/ICC as Igbo business empire. He explained facing the security agencies including DSS and Police that “here there are business owners from every part of Nigeria including Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Itshekiri, Edo and so many other tribes doing businesses. So, its not just Igbo businesses, but Nigerian businesses.

On lifestyles during the Xmas break, he advised members to take things very easy and play low key to avoid exposing themselves into the hands of kidnappers and common criminals.

Speaking in an interview with Business Hilights after the event in his office, the Financial Secretary of BBA, Hon. Jeff Ekejiuba hailed the leadership intelligence the President, Chief Odogwu for returning sanity in the market and assured that “We in the Executive council will continue to do our best for the growth stability of the association.”

Also speaking, Hon. CC Chukwumaeze Gilbert, the Treasurer of BBA said “We thank God for the past two years we in the Executive Council have been navigating the affairs of the BBA for good.”

On the new policy introduced by the President of BBA called ‘Lift 5 Members Policy’, Hon. Gilbert welcomed it and described it as a game changer for interest of several struggling businesses in BBA.

He therefore called on BBA members who have enough to come out and help small business owners to grow freely. He quoted the scriptures saying “Let those God has blessed show love to those that have less so that they can grow their businesses because the blessing of God makes rich and adds no sorrow.”

Business Hilights reports that during the rally every shop and offices were under lock and keys until the even was official declared closed.