NACCIMA Develops Training Program

CIPE's long relationship with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) continued this September and October with a visit by Mrs. Afolake Jimoh and Mrs. Owumi Gbadamosi of NACCIMA to the United States on a NED-funded project. The NACCIMA representatives are studying the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's accreditation process as a model for Nigeria. The delegates visited local chambers of commerce in Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Georgia to observe these chambers actually going through the accreditation process.

The goal of this project is to help NACCIMA develop an accreditation program tailored to the needs of Nigerian chambers of commerce and business associations. The U.S. Chamber program guides associations/chambers through a self-evaluation in six key areas, including establishing a business plan, staff development, finance, communications, facilities and equipment, and organizational structure. The process allows the chambers to identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop recommendations for addressing identified weaknesses.

"Accreditation helps organizations to achieve long term success and stability through self-evaluation and transparency," said Lee Weimer, CIPEšs accreditation consultant. "Business organizations that go through this process become very focused on the needs of their members. Involving new chamber leadership in the process builds deeper understanding and a greater sense of ownership in the organization on the part of the leadership," she added.

NACCIMA visited to the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce in Manassas, Virginia; the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce in Norwich, New York; the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce in Michigan; and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce in Georgia.

Interested chambers and associations can perform a self-analysis using many of the factors considered during accreditation by visiting CIPE's award-winning Virtual Business Association online at www.cipe.org/vba.