Sunday, January 18, 2009

We Intend To Pull Business And Tourism To Our Fatherland

Mrs. Emelia Orubele was recently elected the President and CEO of American-Nigerian International Chamber of Commerce, an Atlanta based organisation. GBENGA SALAU had a chat with her when she visited Nigeria recently.

The personality

I am a graduate of Purdue University School of Pharmacy. I am the President and CEO of SurgiMed Suppliers, Inc, President and CEO of CNU Medical Institute, Director of Public Affairs for the Alliance of Nigerian Organisations in Georgia, and the President of American-Nigerian International Chambers of Commerce. I am married. I have spent all my life in the US. I left Nigeria for the US at about a year old, and I had all my education from primary to university in the US.

Becoming president

I was tricked into it. I have been a very proud Nigerian community advocator. I have been in an organization, I was one of the founding members of Nigerian Women Association in the US and I was Public Relations Affair Officer. I am a pharmacist by training. What got me into this of course, our president, that I know for years; five years ago, he kept on insisting that I take over from him, but I told him that my hands were too full then. Two years ago, he came back and I succumbed to vice presidency. I don't want to be president but later, I accepted the top position for the activity to continue.
In fact I was with the CNN international director and I said why is it that you guys are portraying us bad. I am a success story, I have not robbed a bank, and I have not done 419. There are a lot and millions of us, the people you are showing and depicting is not the true Nigerian.

Challenges managing the chambers

My executive team is made up of American, Nigerian, and other nationals; that is why we have international in it. That is why I have South African, and Camerounian in the executive team and they were upset that is was American Nigerian, why did not we say, American-African, to make it more encompassing and it was almost leading to a crisis. And so now we are focusing on America-Nigeria International Chamber of Commerce.
Another challenge is really getting the people to actually believe that the chambers can do something for them. We have risen up to the occasion; we are attending to the needs of members more than ever.

What brought about the American-Nigerian International Chamber of Commerce?

One of the primary reasons is to step up the bilateral shift to the left- on trade, business and tourism between Americans and Nigerians including other international bodies. This of course formed the name American-Nigerian International Chambers of Commerce.

The main purpose is to attract the different businesses in America and other part of the world to collaborate and do business with Nigerians and in Nigeria.
And, it is very important for everyone to understand that Nigeria is a viable goldmine of economy opportunity. Apart from that, it is a beautiful country; the problem is that most people jumped in and jumped out. This is why people say so many negative things about Nigeria.
No one really has taken the time to attract other people, outside of Nigeria, to come in, do business and also see Nigeria in its beauty.

Since you are an Atlanta-based organisation, do you collaborate with Nigerian organisations?

Yes we do, because we cannot do it alone. That was why we were very happy to be part of those who hosted NITEX 08. We even have the testimonials of some, black Americans, white Americans that have been to Nigeria and have attested to the testimonials, that if they have the chance again, they would come to Nigeria over and again because they have seen the opportunities.

NITEX and the chamber, we have to collaborate. We don't want a situation where people just run in, do business transactions, stay in a hotel, run out. We want to encourage that they come see the beauty of Nigeria in totality.
So we feel that we need to definitely collaborate with people and organisations. That is why, the first time Chief Edem Duke came to us, we were very anxious to be part of the programme, to collaborate and work.

I am happy, pleased and honoured to say, we have made him one of our boards of directors. And as a member of the board of directors in Nigeria, we can on our own end bring the businesses and when people come into Nigeria, he on the other end of the spectrum will complete the process of ensuring that they do business and have a view of the beauty of Nigeria. We are very happy and we look forward to NITEX being a great success and working together. With NITEX, Nigeria will have a more positive reputation than what it is now.
We have worked very closely with the Nigeria Embassy in America and of course the US Embassy here. So we are going to keep encouraging our investors to come in, do businesses but allow some time to actually see what Nigeria has to offer.

Just recently, we had a very great success stories. We had a group from Atlanta on a trade mission in Nigeria, comprise of different expertise; engineers, to doctors. So, we are encouraging them to come here and have a look and we matchmake them depending on the kind of interest they have. So, we are matchmakers, we like to see marriages happen and because of the fear of doing business, which is normal with people you don't know, they used to come to the chambers and have us give endorsement. We provide advice.

You talked passionately about making people come to Nigeria, what is driving you?

I am so encouraged, more than encouraged. With this chamber, you can see very successful and wonderful Nigerians, very good honest Nigerians, and hardworking. I am trying to do our conference and it is called 'How to do businesses in Nigeria' and with that, I want to include our success stories.
I have been advocating that you can meet good people, genuine people, honest people, you can do business and be successful in Nigeria, despite all the negative publicity that goes on. This is the country to be in, we are the hubs of Africa; without Nigeria being a stronghold on the ground, most of African countries will fail.