Winners of the 2016 Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry Excellence Awards

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce & Industry was
established in August 1986 with the vision of
being the foremost Chamber of Commerce in
Nigeria. We are made up of registered businesses
and institutions in Abuja and are non-political and
non-profit making organisation that represent the
common interests of the business community in
Abuja.
We aim at promoting economic and industrial
development of Nigeria in general and within the
FCT in particular by encouraging and protecting
investments and all legitimate business activities.
In recognition of its growing status, Abuja
Chamber was granted International Trade Fair
Status in 1991 and is a vibrant member of the
Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce,
Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
In 2015, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce
and Industry thought it wise to reward
efforts made by individuals in business
towards the growth of the Nigerian
economy. This award was titled The Abuja
Chamber Awards . Its first and only winners
were eminent business and corporate
personalities which
includeAlhajiAlikoDangote, Chief
EmekaOffor, Mr Oscar Onyemaand Mr.
OlatundeAyeni.
After a thorough review of the award, the
chamber felt the need to institute a
sustainable and enduring award process
with established and clearly defined criteria
and metrics which shall equitably apply to
all organizationsin any category under
consideration at any point in time. Thus,
Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Excellence Awards was born. It has the
theme, promoting the Spirit of Excellence.
This year’s award event is being organised
to celebrate outstanding organizations that
have contributed to thegrowth of the
national economy even in the face of the
economic downturn being experienced as a
result of low oil prices.
Our goals for this year’s awards are
multidimensional. As stated earlier, the awards
will recognise the achievements of the winners.
We would also use it as a platform to encourage
other organisations to emulate the winners’
resilience and ability to face the predicted slowing
economic growth not with despair but with
renewed enthusiasm, powered by innovation and
reinvigorated business ideas. It is our desire as
well, to use the awards as an avenue to express
the Chamber’s support of the Federal
Government’s push to diversify Nigeria’s
economic base and to shift attention away from
crude oil.
Awards will be given in the following areas:
i. Investor of the Year
ii. Corporate Social Responsible
organisation.
iii. Most Innovative Business Idea
iv. Outstanding Company (Commerce)
Outstanding Company (Industry)
After thorough research, and comprehensive
analysis from a highly professional team of
Business Intelligence Report Experts and
Consultants, nominees and eventual winners of
these awards were selected based on the
following metrics;
i. Investor of the Year: - Highest
deals and new Investments made by
the organisation.
ii. Highest percentage CSR to
society, based on a key project that
impacted positively without direct
benefit to donor organisation.
iii. Most Innovative Business Idea -
New product(s) / services rolled out
by an organisation which facilitated
economic activity in the country.
iv. Outstanding Company
(Commerce) - Highest volumes of
sales / export of non-oil products in
the last 5 years
v. Outstanding Company (Industry)
- Highest profit after tax, new
employment, dividend pay out to
shareholders
For the integrity of this award, we have chosen a
Guest Speaker who will reserve the right to speak
on any topic of her choice. Her opinion must be
judged on its own merit. In the same vein, the
choice of winners and the metrics used in their
selection were not in any way determined by the
Chamber.As I speak to you, the nominees and the
eventual winners will only be learning, for the first
time through this press conference, of their ever
being evaluated for these awards and that
demonstrates the integrity of the process. This
practice will remain so as long as the award
lives.
It is my honour and privilege to announce to
you the 2016 Abuja Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Excellence Awards Winners;
i. Investor of the Year -Helios
Investment Partners and the Vitol Group
ii. The Corporate Social Responsible
Company of the Year - The Nigeria LNG
Limited
iii. Most Innovative Business Idea of the
Year- Airtel Nigeria’s Recharge and Hit-A-
Million Promo
iv. Outstanding Company of the Year
(Commerce) - Olam Nigeria Limited
Outstanding Company of the Year (Industry)
–Dangote Cement
The winners will formally receive their
awards at a Dinner to be hosted by the
Chamber.This will take place on
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at the
prestigious Sheraton Hotels, Abuja. The
former Vice President of the World Bank and
Nigeria’s former Minister for Education and
later, Minister for Solid
MineralsDevelopment, Dr Mrs
ObiageliEzekwesili will present the key note
address. His Excellency the Executive
Governor of Jigawa State
AlhajiMuhammaduBadaruAbubakarmni, will
be the Chief Guest of Honour, while our
dear Host Minister, Mallam Mohammed
Musa Bello, Hon. Minister for Federal
Capital Territory will be the Special Guest of
Honour. The occasion will be witnessed by
Captains of Industries, Top Government
Functionaries, Members of the Diplomatic
Corps and the Nigeria Business
Community.
It is planned to be a fun filled night as
entertainment will be provided by some of
Nigeria’s popular musicians like; Djinee,
EedrisAbdulkareem, Zara and other artistes.
The Chamber and its partners, Brande
Aristotle Limited promise a wonderful night
of excellence and fun.
We welcome all stakeholders in the business
community who share our vision of promoting the
spirit of excellence to the event.