The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry ACCi on Wednesday expressed readiness to collaborate with University of Abuja in various sectors including skill development, innovation, commercialisation of research and the new Abuja University Business School.

He informed the delegation that the four Centers include the Business, Entrepreneurship, Skills and Technology Center (BEST) Center supports and equips young graduates with skills that would make them employable.

“Graduates today have certificates but have little skills” he decried, stating that the center helps in bridging the skills gap by providing business, entrepreneureurial and technology to training youths.

He also said that ACCI’s Dispute Resolution Centre (DRC), trains youths and not only lawyers on disputes settlement.

He said the Center gives hands on trainings and also provides arbitration services.

“We have been trying to encourage government to domesticate arbitration in the country” he said.

On the Abuja Trade Center (ATC), Prince Kayode said the Center helps in the Facilitation of trade fairs and trade expos, while the Policy Advocacy Center, according to him is a key area where the chamber engages experts to influence  government policies.

He said the Chamber has many programs and has the necessary access by virtue of its location, assuring the VC that ACCI will work with the institution as well as encourage its members to take advantage of the programs the institution was rolling out.

Prince Kayode also decried the poor state of Research and Development in the country  stating that there was a big gap between Research and Development.

The VC who was accompanied by Director, School of Business, Prof. Nzelibe Chinelo, the Coordinator, MBA, Mr Bissan Danladi Joseph, the Deputy Registrar of the Institution, Rosemary Edet and the Principal Assistant Registrar of the Insitution, Maryam Onido said the new Business School is a cutting edge 21st century business school that will train students on certain core competencies such as digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving to help students thrive in today’s world.

He said the programs offered at the Business school are to further capitalise on the progress the institution has achieved over the years.

The VC said some of the courses to be offered include MBA Executive and Regular, MBA Leadership, MBA Entrepreneurship and MBA Marketing.

He said the University would love to tap into the huge network of ACCI, adding that because of COVID-19 pandemic the University is currently operating using virtual classrooms.

While welcoming the guests, the Director General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Ms Victoria Akai  introduced ACCI as a non-partisan, non-sectarian, member-funded organization solely representing the common interests of the business community in the FCT, adding that the Chamber is privately funded by corporations, foundations and members therefore, its energies are directed by the interests of the business community and the general public.