Just like in the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has been nicknamed ‘Oluatuegwu’ (meaning projects don’t fear him), the same nickname has been given to the current President of Association of Progressive Traders (APT), Lagos International Trade Fair complex, Chief Eric Ifeanyi Ilechukwu (Akunwafor-Anyirico) by his association.
Addressing his association during the market opening prayers of the year 2026 earlier in the year, he made it clear to them that he has delivered all his electoral promises and is currently going beyond what he promised before being elected some years ago.
Some of the offline promises included the ongoing re-roofing of all blocks in the shopping plazas of the association.
Touring the complex on fact finding mission on Wednesday by senior editorial team of Business Hilights.ng, it was observed that whereas the massive APT Executive building has long been completed, furnished and already in use, majority of all the plaza blocks are where new looks of paints and re-roofing.
It was further discovered that these mega projects are running the same time Ilechukwu’s administration is driving the delivery of new business plazas that the new sites and APT extension which his leadership secured from the Lagos International Trade Fair complex management board.
Added to these simultaneous projects by the administration, Chief Ilechukwu’s government recently sealed a strategic partnership deal with some well-meaning members of the association to build imposing entrance gate brick structures across every mega entrance/exit in the plaza, a game changer in the emerging face of APT.
Explaining how it worked in an interview with our correspondent, Chief Ilechukwu whose tenure as president is coming to a close towards the end of the year revealed that “When I came up with the idea of changing the face of every entrance/exit gates in our plaza, I though it wise to bring in timbres and calibers in our association to partner with my administration in form of a Corporate Social Responsivity (CSR) to the association and many agreed with me. Now our gates are all looking edifying and very beautiful.
“We partner with our big boys to redesign and make every of our entrance look and beautiful. As it is now, different people are taking up different gates to redesign and built. We decided to recognize them by putting their names or company name on the gates as a mark of gratefulness.
“By the special grace of God, we will commission the new gates very soon before our general election this year.
“Am convinced that I have served my people to the very best of my knowledge within the period I was the President of APT till now. I thank them all for giving me opportunity to serve them well.
Findings at the main entrance gate showed that whereas the exit side of the gate has been delivered, work is ongoing at the entrance side.
Some of the members of APT who spoke their minds described Chief Ilechukwu’s administration as the best so far, noting that the association has experienced highest delivery of infrastructural projects and that is why they call him ‘Mr. Projects’ in the complex.
Additional checks showed that in the entire trade fair complex, the new wave of new entrance and exit gates redevelopment can be seen in only BBA, who had earlier completed all their gates with new beautiful structures also built by way of CSR, Africa Tyre Village, and APT. other business association gates had remained as they built over the years till today.
Development analysts say one of the best ways of rebranding a business empire is by momentarily changing the face of the entrance and exit to continue to remain admired both by members and visiting customers.
However, Chief Eric Ilechukwu is not alone in the thinking and execution of these life and face changing projects in APT.
Other members of the APT Executives are as follows:
Hon. Chief Okey Ibedu, 1st Vice President
Hon. Chief Lawrence Umeama, 2nd Vice President
Hon. Chief Chidozie Oraeki, Gen. Secretary
Hon. Cosmas Okafor, Asst. Gen. Secretary
Hon. Uzowuru Nwabueze, Fin. Secretary
Hon. Stanley Anamalu, Asst. Fin. Secretary
Hon. Prince Linus Ifejika, Treasurer
Hon. Super High Chief Chuka Mekowulu, PRO
Hon. Great-Stanley Chidum, Asst. PRO/MC
Hon. Nze Chsrles Ike, Chief Provost
Hon. Chinedu Ozoebubunna, Asst. Provost.
