Stakeholders across Nigeria’s industrial sector, artisan, technology, aviation, and trade sectors have warned that the nation risks long-term economic stagnation unless its trade associations undergo major reforms and embrace sustainability-driven collaboration. The concerns were raised at the 7th Conference of Nigeria Trade Associations (CONiTA 2025), held on November 12 at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conference theme “Thriving Together: Shaping the Future of Trade Association Industry with Sustainability,” gathered leaders from different trade associations in the formal and informal sector.

President of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Dr. Alex Nwuba, in his keynote titled “A Nation without Trade Associations,” cautioned that weak associations threaten Nigeria’s industrial future. Drawing global examples from North Korea and Germany, he argued that nations that suppress associations “silence their economic future.” He urged Nigerian associations to embrace governance, unity, digital transformation, ethical leadership, and stronger policy engagement.

Institute of Trade Association Management (ITAM) President, Dr. Nelson Obine, presented a new national sustainability blueprint; the Collaborative Sustainability Model for Trade Associations (CSM-TA). The framework promotes shared training systems, joint advocacy, centralized digital services, and innovation-driven funding. He called for a shift “from competition to collaboration” to strengthen national influence and sustainability.

National Electronics Technicians Association of Nigeria (NETAN) President, Engr. Gbolahan Akinsanya represented by its Deputy President Comrade Oseni Ismail Babatunde, highlighted rapid expansion in Nigeria’s electronics market but warned of widening skills gaps, outdated training, and weak regulatory oversight. The association proposed mandatory licensing, a national skills framework, digital learning labs, circular economy adoption, and called on major manufacturers and representative of electronics industry to join hands with the Association in capacity building on modern electronics in the coming year 2026.

LASCOTA showcased its 2018–2025 impact, including ?1.2 billion artisan loans through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF); Elder Yomi Olowokere speaking on behalf of his President, Engr. Lawrence Ajayi, said the Lagos State Government (LASG) in collaboration with LASCOTA, has an ongoing commitment to digital inclusion and adaptation for artisans, which was a key theme at the 2025 LASCOTA Day celebration, they had received a 32-seater Hyundai bus from the Lagos State Government; during the year, he said Mrs. Olusola Odutola was re-elected as President of Epe chapter of LASCOTA and they recorded a significant rise in women participation with major job creating initiatives positioning it as a model for state-level artisan development.

A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Coalition of Trade Associations for Sustainable Development Initiative (COTA-SDI), a landmark platform designed to unify Nigeria’s trade associations under a sustainability, innovation, and collaborative transformation agenda.

Dr. Nelson Obine, in a special keynote presentation titled Trade Associations as Drivers of Sustainable Development in Nigeria, described the coalition as “a bold, visionary step to reposition trade associations as engines of national prosperity.” Obine stated: “Trade associations are not just welfare platforms, they are the lifeblood of a productive economy. Our markets, workshops, and innovation hubs are engines of employment, resilience, and community development.”

Dr. Obine declared that COTA-SDI marks a shift from isolated advocacy to collaborative impact, from survival to sustainability. At the inauguration, trade association leaders adopted a national pledge committing to sustainability, collaboration, transparency, and inclusive growth.

The organizers thanked sponsors and partners including Nigeria Brewery, Flour Mill of Nigeria, and Coca- cola Nigeria for making this year’s conference a reality while welcoming additional partners as they prepare for CONiTA 2026.

Across industry Questions & Answers sessions, delegates raised urgent concerns on procurement fairness, patronage, substandard electronics, and access to funding.

The conference concluded with a unified message: Nigeria’s economic transformation depends on strong, structured, and sustainable trade associations working together for national development.

CONiTA, is an annual multi-interface conference that provides platform for different trade associations, professional organizations and artisans both at formal and informal sector; business regulators, policy makers and sustainability advocates across industries to share practical models and ideas that can harness the inherent status of trade associations for good governance, inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Nigeria.

The Conference has so far held six editions since it started in 2018 with theme “Harnessing the Power of Trade Associations for Good Governance, Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity”.