The Weekend Pointer Guest, Comrade Princewill Ojeh is a banker, businessmen, farmer and presently, the Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Delta State.
In this interview with Ifeanyi Omenogor, Ojeh, spoke on the activities of NASSI and impact of the state government on members, among other issues. Excerpts…
Can we meet you?
I’m Princewill Ojeh, Chairman of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) in Delta State. We are one of the affiliates of NASSI with branches in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
What is NASSI all about?
NASSI has the backing of the law to cater for the needs of small scale industrialists, not large ones like PZ, UTC, SCOA or PAN Ocean. NASSI members relate directly with the production process at the primary level.
When the decree was enacted, the military government of Olusegun Obasanjo discovered that many Nigerians were not able to set up businesses for themselves and not able to compete with the PZ’s, the SCOAs and the major names of those days and that they actually require some form of assistance, so, the government decided to enact a law that will give them all the enablement, backed by government, to spring up, grow and flourish. That is why today, we have what is called the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The law was promulgated in the mid 70s by Obasanjo and midwifed by his government and brought down the line to all the sub national level. Although it has its challenges, it remains an important segment in industrial operations in Nigeria.
NASSI is represented in most federal government agencies. For instance, NASSI is on the board of an incubation agency in Nigeria. NASSI is also on the board of UNIDO; it is in many government organizations, both internationally and locally. NASSI is there on their boards, and what we do is to ensure that issues affecting the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are well protected. That is how NASSI came in. Today, there are challenges in terms of organization, ability to get members together, yes, it has been there and it has continued to be addressed on a gradual basis.
NASSI is supervised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. So, if you want to hear about NASSI, since you cannot find our office now because we are looking for an office, just go to the commissioner who is in-charge and oversees all the PMOS. So, NASSI is one of the PMOS. PMOS is body of business management organizations.So NASSI is one of the key business management organizations that are under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade and Investment.
Now let’s come down to the state level. In Delta State, how is NASSI faring?
In Delta State, NASSI has been around for many years, not very visible, for reasons that border on maybe leadership, organization, involvement of the national body in what they do here. However, I can recollect that one of our past chairmen was using the pensioners’ office at the NLC Secretariat. That was where they had their post, where you can bring a letter to NASSI then. So, whenever he comes from, Bomadi where he resides, he goes there to pick letters. And they had some few executive members among others then.
And until the national level then, insisted that it should be reinvigorated, the man did so much in trying to bring people in. And then NASSI was stable, until the time for election came, they tried to organize an election. That election ended in a fiasco and led to the problem that NASSI encountered in the state at that time. So, NASSI was polarized. The factions were led by different people. Then, to end the crisis, the national body came to conduct an election and some people challenged it to the point that they even went to court.
So, the crisis lingered for many years, the case was in court, until a commissioner came in to settle the matter, she said that NASSI is losing many opportunities, so she called us and arranged a meeting and said, I want us to reconcile the grievances here.
She said we should be able to have unification so that NASSI can be one in Delta State. So, the commissioner then asked us to see how we can carry everybody along, I said okay and fine, we’ll get back to you after two days.
So, when we got back, we told the commissioner that we have agreed that one position goes to left, another one to the right within the two factions. The commissioner said the proposal was okay if it will bring needed peace.
But as the election was about to take place I was persuaded upon by the old men and prominent persons in NASSI, saying, My son, you are the only one that has the capacity to douse everything, because none of them can look into your eyes and speak anyhow, you are better. You have the experience, you have the background, you have the basics, please contest for state chairman so that you can stabilise things. So, I then emerged as the state chairman, while other positions were elected from the factions.
Tell us about the last election that brought you back, some persons seem not to be okay with it.
By our Constitution, elections are held every four years. And the good thing about this election is that the day the tenure ended was the day election was scheduled, 17th of August, 2025. We have delegates from all the local governments in Delta State.
Our tenure ended on the 17th of August. We set up an election committee and picked date to organize the last election that brought me back. The election complied with the provisions of the Constitution; we posted it on our platform, announced it on radio and television. We started by ensuring that. So, we started gathering data, you must be a member to attend our meeting and participate in the election with verifiable ID card.
So, again I emerged chairman and other positions were also put in place, all were unopposed, so, I can say, the election was peaceful devoid of any crisis. Anybody saying otherwise is not telling the truth.
So, the election that had just taken place is to bring us to the next level, the level of consolidation. We’re now in the era of consolidation and awareness creation. It is free and fair.
How is the relationship between NASSI and the commissioner?
NASSI in Delta began effectively in the last two years in form of ensuring that only members benefit from what comes to NASSI. And we have strengthened our relationship with state government.
So, today, I can tell you that the present relationship between NASSI and the state government at the ministry level is very excellent. The commissioner there, the young man, is doing his best. He gives us his ears. We put heads together to see how benefits can come.
How can Deltans benefit from NASSI?
NASSI as I said before is body of business organisations with the aim of developing our small and medium businesses and because of that the government empowers us through the Bank of Industry (BOI). So, Deltans can benefit by being a member of NASSI and apply, and by the time you fulfil all the formalities, you can get the repayable loans at much reduced interest rates.
So, I can say that many Deltans had already benefited, therefore, I am using this opportunity again to call on more Deltans to be part of NASSI activities to benefit.
NASSI Delta as a body is approaching 500 applications at BOI for these Federal Government financial facilities, we have processed many applications and others are being processed, while many other had already received their money. So, the moment has started. You can go to BOI and confirm some of the payments.
This Federal Government is using her sovereignty to assess funds from multilateral institutions for the industrial development in Nigeria. So, BOI is a development institution of the Federal Government disbursing the funds.
Bringing funds from anywhere in the world, donation from anywhere in the world, channel them to the members of our industry, or the industries in Nigeria. That is their function along the line.
How do you rate the governor?
You know in Delta State, it is highly civilized in terms of methodology. Everybody that seeks to see the governor is looking for what he wants from the Governor. NASSI wants to see the governor from a point of advantage. We don’t need much from him. Give us what you think will improve the activities of NASSI.
The governor is a great leader; he has created the enabling atmosphere for NASSI activities to thrive in Delta State, however, we are urging him to do more.
We are not just asking government to do everything for us like others, but we intend to help government in one way or the other. I am aware that the state government gave out grants, fertilizers to businessmen and farmers recently, so, it is encouraging.
Just recently, we were with the Head of Service and we intend to train retirees and those retiring soon from the civil service on how to key into NASSI activities to make a living after when they are out of service. In this regard we are making progress.
What message do you have for Deltans and Nigerians?
NASSI is open for everybody that is into a productive venture. It is not a secret society. You must learn something, one thing or the other, come and be a member. From next year, we will introduce annual subscription. You must have ID cards and must attend meetings.
So, generally, Deltans should key into NASSI activities to better their lot and improve on the economic sector of the state and country.
