The leadership and companies under the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), seem to fight harder to protect the reputation of Port Harcourt as a worthy business dirstict and Rivers State economic belt.
This is as many of the member-companies have been encouraged to and have continued to mount and host business events that show that the economy of the state was waxing on. On this, Chinyere Nwoga, the first female president of PHCCIMA, has lauded another member company for showcasing Rivers State as a safe hub for business/tourism via the ‘Bole Festival 2025’.
PHCCIMA leadership did this by commending Chinonso Iwuh, the MD/CEO of Bole Festival Limited, for orchestrating the annual Bole Festival, a multi-day celebration of Rivers State’s rich culinary heritage, music, culture, and community spirit.
Held in Port Harcourt, the festival is said to have emerged as a powerful testament to the state’s safety and immense potential for business and tourism.
Nwoga led a top delegation to the event, joined by notable business personalities including Emeka Unachukwu, a past president; Emeka Nzekwe, a high chief and chairman of PHCCIMA’s Professional Service and Consultancy Trade Group; and many more. The delegation praised Iwuh for his visionary leadership in curating an event that not only celebrates Rivers State’s cultural vibrancy but also positions it as a secure and attractive destination for investors and tourists alike.
Nwoga, speaking at the festival, highlighted the event’s significance: “The Bole Festival is a bold statement to the world that Rivers State is open for business. The phenomenal turnout and the vibrant energy here showcase the state’s safety and its untapped opportunities. This is a clarion call to investors to seize the moment and explore the vast potential for growth in Rivers State.”
Meanwhile, PHCCIMA has moved to empower entrepreneurs with what it terms cutting-edge digital transformation training in Port Harcourt.
Read also: PHCCIMA, Rivers body of journalists agree partnership to promote entertainment and tourism
This is sai to have created exciting times at Port Harcourt City Chamber as top experts share game-changing digital tools and strategies to boost sales, cut costs, and attract investors. In other words.
In her opening remark, Nwoga affirmed her administration’s ongoing commitment to entrepreneurship advocacy, training, and enlightenment for its vast membership and aspiring entrepreneurs across Rivers State. This focus, according to her, aims to position members strategically amidst the rapid shifts in today’s global landscape.
Represented by Emeka Ezekwe, Chairman of Professional Services and Consultancy Trade Group of PHCCIMA at the Tech and Digital Transformation Leadership Training held at the Chamber’s conference hall, Nwoga emphasized that while everything evolves rapidly, knowledge remains essential.
She highlighted that technology and digital transformation have continued to revolutionize businesses by embedding digital tools and data across operations, boosting customer value, efficiency, and innovation.
She noted that this transformation drives new business models, enhances customer experience, lowers costs, and creates competitive edges through data analytics, automation, cloud services, and vital cultural and strategic shifts.
In his remarks, Fenibo Fubara, the group’s chief, said the event equipped CEOs, executives, and startups with actionable insights to drive growth, resilience, and competitiveness through digital adoption. “It strengthens PHCCIMA’s collective digital capacity, positioning our region as an innovation hub.”
The event is said to spotlight key themes such as driving sales with digital tools, automating operations to cut costs, expanding customers reach locally and globally, strengthening decisions through real-time data, and attracting investors via digital presence. Notable speakers included Bruce Lucas, Founder of Olotu Square, who delivered keynote talks on “What & Why Digital Transformation” and “Technology as an Enabler – Choosing the Right Tools.” Other highlights featured:
Also, from the womb of the PHCCIMA, what looks like a game-changer has emerged, called the StartupSouth which is said to ignite Port Harcourt every year.
In what is believed to be a whirlwind of innovation and collaboration, the StartupSouth Community unleashed an electrifying two-day engagement at the PHCCIMA, setting the stage for a transformative alliance that could redefine Nigeria’s startup ecosystem.
Within the week, the StartupSouth delegation launched their mission with a high-energy courtesy visit to Nwoga, PHCCIMA’s President, celebrating what they called her groundbreaking achievement as the chamber’s first-ever female president. The visit was said to be a powerful signal of intent to forge a dynamic partnership.
The momentum surged the next day as StartupSouth sat down with PHCCIMA’s Trade Group leaders for a strategic interaction. The agenda, among other things, was to unlock bold collaboration opportunities and extend an exclusive invitation to PHCCIMA for #StartupSouth X, the highly anticipated 10th edition of their flagship event, slated for September to October 2025.
Reflecting on StartupSouth’s journey, founder and leader of the team, Uche Aniche, delivered a stirring account of their evolution. “Since our ambitious launch in 2015, StartupSouth has grown into Nigeria’s premier community for founders, policymakers, and investors.”
“We’re not just scaling in size and reach but creating seismic shifts in the startup ecosystem through our events and programming.”
With nine years of impact, StartupSouth is said to have cemented its reputation as a catalyst for technology, business innovation, and networking, and we have been frontal in inspiring and empowering youths and startups.
Nwoga, a member of many business groups at state and national levels, pledged PHCCIMA’s full support, emphasizing the chamber’s role in driving networking, advocacy, and ease of doing business.
Nwoga also highlighted the exclusive perks of PHCCIMA membership, from access to trade groups and regulatory bodies to funding opportunities and referral networks, while clarifying the distinct advantages for members versus non-members.
