The National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), chartered, successfully held its New Membership Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, October 30, 2025, at Vintano Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, with simultaneous participation via Zoom. This marked the first-ever hybrid induction ceremony in the Institute’s history, combining both physical and virtual attendance and further demonstrating NICA’s commitment to innovation, inclusiveness, and professional excellence.
Until 2019, NICA’s induction ceremonies were held physically, but the Institute transitioned to virtual inductions in 2020 following the outbreak of global COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 hybrid ceremony, therefore, marked a historic milestone, the first time NICA combined both physical and virtual participation in a single event, further demonstrating its commitment to innovation, inclusiveness, and professional excellence.
The event, which commenced at 10:30 a.m., officially welcomed newly admitted members into the Institute’s professional community and reaffirmed NICA’s mission to promote excellence, integrity, and sound credit management practices across industries in Nigeria.
In line with the Institute’s professional standards, inductees were instructed to log in or arrive at least 20 minutes before commencement to ensure a seamless and well-coordinated ceremony. The programme began with an opening address by the Master of Ceremony, Mrs. Lois Chidi, who set the tone for the event and invited the new members to introduce themselves. Introductions began with the Fellow category (FICA), followed by Member (MICA), and concluded with Associate (AICA). Each inductee stated their name, category, and organization, showcasing the depth and diversity of NICA’s growing membership.
This was followed by the acknowledgment of NICA Council Members, including Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu and Prof. Chris Onalo, in recognition of their dedication and service to the advancement of the Institute.
In the absence of the President of the Council, Mr. Andy Ojei, the Deputy Chairman/Vice President, Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu, represented him and delivered the President’s induction address. In her speech, she applauded the inductees for choosing to become part of NICA, highlighting professional development, networking as some of the major advantages of membership. She urged members to engage actively with the Institute whenever they require professional guidance, support, or collaboration, describing NICA as a dynamic community of credit management professionals united by ethics and a common purpose.
A short cultural display followed, symbolizing unity and the shared values that connect members of the Institute across regions and professions.
The Professional Oath of Allegiance was administered by Barr. Prudence Onaah, who led the inductees in pledging commitment to uphold NICA’s professional ethics and standards, marking their official admission into the Institute.
In his address to the newly inducted members, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Chris Onalo, congratulated them and reminded the inductees that membership in NICA goes beyond privileges, it comes with the responsibility of being ambassadors of the Institute. He urged them to uphold the values of dignity, discipline, and integrity in all their professional dealings. Prof. Chris Onalo also encouraged them to remain active and engaged, assuring that their involvement in NICA would offer deeper professional fulfillment than any other association they may belong to.
He reiterated that NICA offers specialized training programmes for professionals and institutions in credit administration. Among its members, he noted, are practitioners engaged in credit rating, credit bureau operations, and financial risk management—describing this as a new horizon for credit practice in Nigeria.
Prof. Onalo reminded inductees that they are treasured members of the Institute and urged them to stay informed by regularly visiting NICA’s official website and reading the NICA Magazine. He concluded by announcing that induction certificates would be ready for collection soon and congratulated the inductees once again for their professional achievement.
A Goodwill Message was delivered by Mrs. Scholastica, a staff of the Post Graduate School of Credit and Finance Management (PSCFM), who highlighted the importance of promoting continuous learning and professional development. She encouraged members to quickly take their seats for the NICA’s 6 month’s Mandatory Credit Management Academic Improvement Programme (MCMAIP), being conducted by PSCFM to enhance their knowledge and stay informed on credit and finance trends. The Mandatory Credit Management Academic Improvement Programme (MCMAIP) starts 0n the 6th of December 2025. This emphasizes the PSCFM’s role as a key platform for all NICA’s educational programmes.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Maryam Gubio Yusuf, Deputy General Manager and Group Head Nigeria Incentive Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), on behalf of inductees. She expressed appreciation to the NICA Council, the President (represented by the Deputy Chairman/Vice President), the Registrar/CEO, and all participants for their contributions to the success of the ceremony, she acknowledged that as Ambassadors of the institute, they would make NICA proud.
The 2025 NICA Membership Induction Ceremony was a remarkable success, the first hybrid induction in the Institute’s history. This reflects NICA’s steadfast commitment to fostering professionalism, innovation, and ethical standards in credit administration. The event ended on an inspiring note, with new members expressing enthusiasm to contribute to NICA’s mission of advancing sound credit management as a foundation for Nigeria’s economic growth.
For more information and engagement, members are encouraged to contact the Institute through its official communication channels.
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