The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) and Maistrade Multipurpose Cooperative Federation Limited (MAISTRADE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance investment, agribusiness, and value-chain development in the Niger Delta region. The agreement was signed by NDCCITMA Chairman, Idaere Gogo-Ogan, and President/Chief Vision Officer of MAISTRADE, Benjamin Aduli. This partnership aims to identify and facilitate access to investment and development finance for credible agribusinesses and micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) across the region.
Under the terms of the partnership, NDCCITMA will serve as a strategic regional access and mobilisation partner for eligible businesses and cooperatives. The organisation will support the identification and preliminary referral of credible enterprises and projects, while facilitating engagement with relevant private-sector, public-sector, and institutional stakeholders. This will enable NDCCITMA to play a crucial role in unlocking investment opportunities in the Niger Delta.
MAISTRADE, on its part, will provide digital registration, project intake, and profiling infrastructure, while establishing and managing a digital project pipeline and relevant data structure. The cooperative federation will also support project categorisation and aggregation, coordinate engagements with investors and development finance institutions, and facilitate the integration of qualified opportunities into appropriate MAISTRADE platforms and programmes. This will help to streamline the process of accessing investment and finance for businesses in the region.
The agreement stated that the partnership reflects the organisations' commitment to poverty reduction, job creation, and development of small and medium-scale enterprises in the region. By working together, NDCCITMA and MAISTRADE aim to create a structured platform for connecting viable businesses and projects in the Niger Delta with investors, development finance institutions, markets, and other strategic partners. This will help to drive economic growth and development in the region.
According to the agreement, both organisations will operate a common pipeline covering the identification, registration, profiling, aggregation, screening, qualification, matching, financing, monitoring, and reporting of projects. The joint delivery model provides that project and participant information may be considered for investment, financing, and partnership purposes in accordance with applicable laws and confidentiality obligations. This will ensure transparency and accountability in the partnership.
The parties, however, clarified that the MoU does not constitute a commitment by either organisation to provide funding for specific tasks unless separately agreed in writing. The agreement will remain in force for three years from the date of execution, subject to renewal or amendment by the parties. This provides a clear framework for the partnership and ensures that both organisations are committed to working together.
The partnership is expected to provide a structured platform for connecting viable businesses and projects in the Niger Delta with investors, development finance institutions, markets, and other strategic partners. This will help to drive economic growth and development in the region, creating jobs and reducing poverty. The partnership is a significant step towards unlocking investment opportunities in the Niger Delta and promoting sustainable economic development.
Key points
- NDCCITMA and MAISTRADE sign MoU to boost investment and agribusiness in the Niger Delta region
- Partnership aims to provide a structured platform for connecting viable businesses with investors and development finance institutions
- Agreement will remain in force for three years, subject to renewal or amendment by the parties
