Alhaji Isah Akanbi Mohammed, leader, administrator and President Emeritus of Association of Nigerian Tyre Marketers (ANTM), builders/owners of Africa Tyre Village (ATV), Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
“Looking for a leader in the entire Lagos International Trade Fair Complex that is highly respected by stakeholders and several associations in terms of administration, saying the truth as it is, looking at issues with sane intelligence, attending to issues on time and working with others for the good of all, that person is no other person than Alhaji Isah Akanbi Mohammed, the immediate past president of Association of Nigerian Tyre Marketers (ANTM), owners of Africa Tyre Village (ATV).”
This was how the chairman of Lagos International Trade Fair Stakeholders Association, Chief Eric Ilechukwu defined Alhaji Mohammed in an interview with Business Hilights.ng in his office after reviewing his 20 years of examplary leadership in ATV.
He said Alhaji is a leader par excellence and a man every association will like to keep as their life leader because of his clinical approach to matter of administration and peace building at all times.
Also speaking, the current President of ASPMDA, Hon. Ngozi Emechebe described Alhaji as a leader you must listen to first before taking decision to avoid mistakes.
According to ASPMDA President, “Alhaji will always tell you the truth no matter what is happening. He always stand on the truth on issues of stakeholders and if you argue with him, you will finally come back to the idea he gave in the beginning. This is Alhaji Isah Akanbi Mohammed for you”.
Speaking about his former boss, the new President of NATM, Chief Okey Ezeifeoma described Alhaji Mohammed as a leader everybody needs for growth and unity. “My Oga is a strategic unifier and peace lover of all times. He is a detribalized Nigerians and follower of the truth in everything he does both in the plaza and even in personal life. The truth is that I will always go to him for advice from time to time because he has. I don’t need to be told,” Ezeifeoma added.
Now, taking a cursory look at his emotion-laden speech during the inauguration of new NATM executives on June 25, 2026, he recalled as follows;
“My journey as a servant of this union started in the year 1998, the year I was elected as the General Secretary and served under Chief James Oduche, a man I learnt a lot from and my late boss Lasisi Adeola Adebisi, may his soul continue to rest in peace. Amen.
“In February 2006, I was elected the president of our union with an individual who believed in my abilities, who shared the same vision with and was completely loyal to me, Mr. Okechukwu Ezioforma as my Vice, we suffered together and sacrificed so much to see the union through her difficult moments. Thank God, we ended up as brothers.
“We came in when the morals of our members were very low and there was no one who was driven. We decided to put every God given quality into the service of our union, rather than be there and our labor has not being in vain.
“Our union was founded by people from two different religions (Christianity and Islam) and tribes (Igbo and Yoruba), to God be the glory, we differ in tribe, tongue and religion so keep wasting stronger in brotherhood.
ACHIEVEMENTS
While serving the union, I restored our members’ dignity in Eno-owa Lagos Island. I made sure no member either igbo or Yoruba was molested. I jailed them motorists and boys from notable Lagos family. I stopped the developers and landlords from collecting my members through arbitrary rent increase. Infact, the union, during my time controlled the rent for shops, the developers and landlords went as far as attacking me spiritually and physically, but, with the grace of God we won.
“After stabilizing the market and restoring discipline, my vice being an importer, brought to my notice the main challenge facing our members, he also alerted me that our control on shop rent was not sustainable because our numbers kept growing and demand would eventually lead to scarcity, hence we decided to relocate our market and upgrade the status of our members to shop owners.
“It looked unachievable because the union was not buoyant enough and the store we
were hearing about union that built with bank loans was that they ended up with some challenges.
Our members gave us the mandate, but, insisted we must not take any loan, either from commercial or mortgage banks.
“During our search for a suitable place, we were ambushed and abducted by area boys at Abule Oshun, we were paraded in the sun on our kneels, I stood up and told our abductors that I was the leader that brought others to the place, that they should be released while they deal with me. Thank God, common sense prevailed, I and my General Secretary Alh. Shefu Lawal were taken to Baale like criminals, but, the Baale reasoned with me after my explanations that a lawyer brought us, we were released but some of our members were slapped and molested, thank God, those members are happily shop owners in Africa Tyre Village today.
“We were later lucky to lease a portion of land here in Lagos International Trade Fair Complex in the year 2007. We built our markets by the grace of God with no bank loan and no helping shoulders from any individual, just our efforts, members contributions, and the transparency of the leadership.
“We relocated and became shop owners on the 20th day of January 2014, it was difficult as some members decided to relocate back to the Island. To God be the glory, they came back begging, renting shops and bought what they lost through arrogance and impatience with staggering amount.
“I have with my Co-Exco members being able to stabilize the market, we are a happy and peaceful people.
“It’s a market nobody or a group of people can lay a claim on, this is because our documents duly signed by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the Executive Director of Lagos International Trade Fair Management Board is not kept with any individual but in a Vault (Montgomery Vault) and it takes three members to sign for a page to be brought out from the vault.
The biggest achievement is the peaceful co-existence of members, throughout our existence since twelve years ago, we have not recorded any tribal or religious crisis, no legal battle between any two members because our arbitration panel is effectively working. No member has the right to arrest another member with police or take him/her to court on his/her own without the knowledge of the union.
“My president, leader of our union and Chief Administrator of our market, Mr. Okechukwu Ezeifeoma, I wish you and your team God’s guidance and blessings.
Elections are over, you are now the father to all of us, please lead us with the fear of God.
To my distinguished members, if we don’t look at and examine the past, we will not be able to change the presence and plan for a better future.
Please, don’t come to me and tell me they are destroying my legacies, don’t tell me they are insulting what I did, support the team to succeed and please, let me enjoy my retirement.
At this junction, I want to appreciate all of you (Members) for allowing me to serve you, may God bless you. I appreciate members of Importers forum for your support, I thank members of the Independent Electoral Board led by a gentle man Mr. Innocent Odo, I say thank to you and your team for showcasing what we are to the world. I thank all our Investors for paying their Levies and Dues even when the economic situation was bad. I thank the organizer of this occasion led by Mr. Emeka Ezeokoli (Mentus) and his team, may God bless you. I thank every donor that make today’s occasion a reality. May God replenish your purse.
I thank all of you (Members) for your Support, Love, Encouragement, Endurance and Perseverance, God will reward you. To all block chairmen and their teams thank you, to chairmen and members of various committees, thank you
To my Co-Outgoing Exco Members, thank you for your loyalty, love and support, may God bless our individual endeavors.
To our president and his team, I pray that God will lead you, direct you and bless you with wisdom.
I want to be remembered as a man who came, served, touched lives positively and retired with a fulfilled heart. To everyone that is here today to share this historic moment with us, thank you, God bless you.
To my members, I’m leaving you in a very safe hands and I’m confident that we will continue to get better and better. I will miss every one of you. Thank you and God bless.
Alhaji Issa Akanbi
President 2006-2026
