Interview: Chinedu Nwonu’s Vision to Rebrand Onitsha’s Business Powerhouse

When you walk into Mr. Chinedu Nwonu’s office at the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), there’s an unmistakable air of calm determination. The man radiates the confidence of someone who has spent years understanding both the power and pitfalls of commerce in one of Nigeria’s most vibrant trading cities. His handshake is firm, his smile genuine, and his words—precise, thoughtful, and deliberate—reflect the measured pragmatism of a man who has worked his way through the ranks.

For nearly a decade, Nwonu has been one of the pillars holding up ONICCIMA’s operations, helping steer it through transitions, challenges, and triumphs. Now, as its newly elected President, he carries not just a title, but a mandate—to reposition the Chamber as the heartbeat of private enterprise in the South-East.

In this candid conversation with by VICTOR ONONYE, Nwonu speaks on his plans to bridge the gap between the business community and government, strengthen advocacy, and restore faith in organized private enterprise. He also reflects on Nigeria’s current economic realities, from inflation to infrastructure, and why collaboration—not confrontation—will define his presidency.

Excerpts…

As the new President of ONICCIMA, what are your main areas of focus that would be different from past regimes?
Unprecedented level of collaboration and partnership with the Organized Private Sector. Onitsha Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the OPS. Sadly, we can’t speak for who we don’t know what their issues and challenges are, so I intend to regularly visit the market executives, factories, social entrepreneurs, street traders, and SMEs to find out their peculiar issues, then channel these challenges to government and other stakeholders till resolution.

What are the areas you think your Chamber has done well and where they’ve not?
We have done well in terms of stabilising the Chamber till date through the praiseworthy activities of all the past Presidents, some of which include a renowned movie producer, Sir Rob Emeka Eze (Remmy Jez Movies), Dr Tim Anosike, Late Hon. Okey Akaneme, Pharmacist Uche Apakama (CEO of Paxs Pharmacy), Don Ebubeogu (CEO of Tiger Foods Group), Pharm Chris Ukachukwu (Chairman of Rexton Industries Ltd), Chief Sir Kelvin Obieri (Principal at Ich Dien Audit), Chief Sir Augustine Ibeme (CEO Citizens Paints Group). We have done well by respecting and following our structured succession-planning system without quarrels and court cases as seen in many city chambers. We have done well in terms of pressuring the government through press releases and policy statements. We have done well through our lecture series called The Perspective, where topical societal and economic issues are highlighted with solutions proffered. We have done well by contributing and spending over N250m to construct a mega complex that is our Secretariat located directly opposite The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, without a penny from government or any organisation. As already stated, the only area of improvement is on robust advocacy, partnerships, and collaborations, which is now my core responsibility and focus.

Are you satisfied with your chamber’s relationship with the government and, if not, tell us where you want improvement and collaboration.
It’s a work in progress. Governance is not easy. They are faced with myriads of challenges. We have been interfacing with the government, though the relationship, partnership, and collaboration could be better. In the last few days, I have reached out to our Governor’s Chief of Protocol, so I can only say you should watch out. But in all, there’s an improvement in security across the state and this will certainly help in ease of doing business. We would continue to engage government on issues of multiple taxation as they come up especially from touts and other non-state actors in order to protect small businesses.

ONICCIMA has existed for decades, pioneering trade and commerce collaborations and standards among members but generally, a lot of people don’t know much about the Chamber. Kindly give us a sense of what the Chamber is all about.
Onitsha Chamber of Commerce is an organization that supports and promotes the interests of the Organized Private Sector (OPS), that is, individuals, professionals or companies doing any form of genuine business.

1. Advocacy: We are the voice of the Organized Private Sector. We find out the challenges faced by the business community then pressure the government or their agencies, policymakers and regulatory bodies till they resolve these issues. This is aimed at creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
2. Business Travel Facilitations: Because of our extensive network and connections, we facilitate issuing supporting travel documents to members wishing to undertake international business trips for appointments, fairs or exhibitions.
3. Intervention Against Harassment and Intimidations: Where a business or vehicle bearing members’ goods is unduly harassed in so far as they are in compliant with the law, we intervene by contacting the required Government agencies to desist.
4. Funding Opportunities: We liaise with government funding agencies like Bank of Industry, NEXIM, Bank of Agriculture, or donor agencies, etc., to finance the businesses of members by way of grants or at low interest rates.
5. Business Support: Working with other professional bodies and consultants, we provide resources like training, new business information and networking opportunities to help businesses grow and thrive.
6. Networking: We facilitate collaborations and partnerships amongst business groups both locally and globally, fostering networking, and business opportunities.
7. Information and Research: We offer market research, industry insights, and business intelligence to the business community.
8. Exhibitions and Fairs: We facilitate trade fairs and exhibitions issuing permits to exhibitors or partnering with organisers to ensure increased participation of target audiences.
9. Business Registrations: Working with government agencies like CAC, NAFDAC, SON, etc., we facilitate business or product registrations, etc.

I therefore call on business owners and other stakeholders who are yet to come on board to do so in order to achieve a common purpose and share the beauty and dividends of unity and oneness.

With the look of things generally in the country, does your Chamber align with the policies of the FG as it affects trade and commerce?
As a city Chamber, we support every government policy that boosts trade, industry, mines and agriculture. We equally oppose any policy against businesses that should create employment and better living standards. We applaud the federal government over the improvements in our inflation rate which presently hovers around 18% though food inflation is still slightly higher, stabilising the naira at about N1,460 for some months now and prices of a few food items gradually reducing. Impact of Dangote Refinery appears to be positively affecting easing dollar demands and pressure on the naira. However, the full details of what the government is actually doing to engineer the above positives is still a bit opaque. What is not clear is our level of increased borrowings, and we have been waiting to see the tangible effects of such facilities in trade and industry, employment rate, disposable income, transport costs, tackling insecurity, massive infrastructure development in roads, rail and waterways. Our healthcare system is still poor. Ease of doing business is nothing to write home about as government agencies pressure companies into closure with un-harmonised taxes and aggressive and crude collection techniques. Government support to cottage industries in terms of funding, tax breaks, ease of land acquisition, access roads, power and security will surely impact the economy faster.

Mr Chinedu Nwonu brings to his new role a deep familiarity with ONICCIMA’s history and the challenges facing the business community in Onitsha and the surrounding region. The conversation above gives a clear sense of his vision for the chamber: increased engagement with ground-level entrepreneurs — street traders, SMEs, factories — and a renewed push on advocacy, partnerships and collaboration.

His emphasis on visiting market executives and factory owners to find out their “peculiar issues” underscores his belief that a Chamber must first listen before it can speak. “We can’t speak for who we don’t know what their issues and challenges are,” he says. This approach marks a subtle but important shift: from a Chamber that primarily functioned at the upper levels of the business hierarchy, to one that intends to descend into the everyday realities of Onitsha’s business life.

Equally, Mr Nwonu is upfront about where ONICCIMA has performed well and where it has fallen short. He acknowledges that the chamber has a solid record of institutional stability — no internal court cases, clear succession planning, and a proud array of past leadership: Sir Rob Emeka Eze (Remmy Jez Movies), Dr Tim Anosike, the late Hon Okey Akaneme, Pharmacist Uche Apakama, Don Ebubeogu, Pharm Chris Ukachukwu, Chief Sir Kelvin Obieri and Chief Sir Augustine Ibeme. He also highlights the achievement of constructing a mega-complex secretariat — opposite The Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity — at a cost of over N250 million, with no government funding. These are tangible accomplishments.

But then he points to the “only area of improvement” — robust advocacy, partnerships and collaborations — and places that at the centre of his presidency. That robustness is in his crosshairs.

When it comes to ONICCIMA’s relationship with government, Nwonu’s words are measured. He describes the interaction as “a work in progress.” He acknowledges improvements in security across the state that “will certainly help in ease of doing business,” but he warns that small businesses remain exposed to issues such as “multiple taxation … especially from touts and other non-state actors.” His outreach to the Governor’s Chief of Protocol hints at a desire to deepen the institutional linkages between the Chamber and government. In effect, Nwonu is signalling: things will be shaken up.

Moreover, in explaining ONICCIMA’s purpose, his enumeration of nine functions — from advocacy and business travel facilitation to funding opportunities and trade fairs — is comprehensive. This is not simply a club of businessmen; it is a multi-faceted organisation intent on supporting its members in every meaningful way.

Finally, his stance on national policy reflects a nuanced balancing act. He supports government policies that boost trade, industry, mines and agriculture, yet reserves the right to oppose any policy that hinders business, employment or living standards. He commends improvements such as inflation falling to about 18% and stabilisation of the naira at around N1,460, but he adds a sharp caveat: “What is not clear is our level of increased borrowings … we have been waiting to see the tangible effects … Our healthcare system is still poor. Ease of doing business is nothing to write home about … government agencies pressure companies into closure … aggressive and crude collection techniques.” His call for government support to cottage industries in terms of funding, tax breaks, ease of land acquisition, access roads, power and security rings true in an economy where small businesses often struggle.

Overall, Mr Nwonu appears poised to lead ONICCIMA into a new era — one defined by ground-level outreach, stronger institutional partnerships, and more visible value for members. The aspirations are clear. The context is challenging. The coming months will show whether his leadership can translate promise into tangible progress.