Statutorily speaking, Trade Associations provide a collective voice for their members and a forum to solve common problems driven by the objectives and laws establishing them. Rehashing the essence of trade associations in the front burner for socio-economic development in Nigeria and Africa in general at this time is quite imperative.

The roles for Economic Development and sustainability in current times are beyond the confine effort of a single trade association, individual or organization hence the clarion demand for a broad base multi-stakeholder conference.

The Conference focuses on sustainability for trade associations, chambers of commerce and corporations in Nigeria with the aim to drive honest conversation and generate dialogue around critical issues. Conversations are weaved around some of the changes we see in today’s governance and leadership in a post-pandemic era; such as sovereign threat, deteriorating communities, challenging economic times across board, volatile gruesome events, a growing social divide, phobia and rapid-changing technology. Discovering strategies to subdue these risks will be a huge factor for business survival as we strove through the 21^st century.

Every entity operates under one economy which is practically the ground of convergence.  This mere fact steers up interest for innovative approach which led to the birth of the Conference of Nigeria Trade Associations in 2018, and has steadily become a platform reckoned for driving sustainable development. We are inspired by veritable achievement; share and believe in the Agenda 2030, as well as in the Africa Agenda 2063.

Our research findings showed that one out of every four trades in Nigeria have a trade association, these findings propose trade associations as an increasing factor for business life and persuasive voice for development and sustainability in Nigeria. The ways and extent to which industry associations are recognized as representatives of their industry-by-industry members and other audience is an issue of concern. The debated issues that members want their trade association to be “tough in defending their interests” irrespective of constitutional legitimacy and existing codes of conduct, and whether members of a trade association need some degree of independent interactions with other associations is indeed pivotal. Again, the roles for Economic Development and sustainability are beyond the confine effort of a single trade association, individual or organization hence the clarion demand for a broad base multi-stakeholder conference. The theme of this year’s conference being 4^th Edition is: Trade Associations, Small and Micro Enterprise (SMEs) for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development in Africa.

The aim includes to:

·         Promote the idea of building sustainable economic development among trade associations and communications across diverse sectors and industry.

·         Identify practical insights and tools to help associations assess emerging risks, define their options and set priority in phases for inclusive growth.

·         To identify leadership roles that promotes industry role towards inclusive socio-economic development in Africa and in Nigeria in particular.

·         Analyse how associations operate and how they can be expected to relate with their MSMEs /corporate members.

·         Identify tools of assessing sustainability practices of different trade associations and chambers of commerce.

·         Learn how Informal sector impacts on the nation’s gross domestic products year of year.

·         Identify the role of finance and other ancillary services in driving formalization of informal enterprises.

·         Identify key implications and opportunities for Associations in achieving the future we want according to the Africa Agenda 2063 & UN Sustainable Development Goals.

·         To create a call to action, addressing association leaders and their boards to understand how trends impact on their leadership, membership drive and performers.

·         Establish enabling policies and recommendations for good governance, inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Nigeria.

• Overview of trade associations; the case of Nigeria
• Strategies for human development and protection of vulnerable populations
• Governance for inclusive growth and shared propensity (with Case Study)
• Range of CSR /Sustainability Engagement for Trade Associations

       The inclusive way to promote shared prosperity across trade associations in Nigeria

• Role, challenges and opportunities of trade associations for economic development
• Formalization of informal enterprises: Government Options and Partnership Window