The National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), chartered, successfully held its New Membership Webinar Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. The virtual event, hosted via Zoom, officially welcomed newly admitted members into the Institute’s professional community and reaffirmed NICA’s commitment to promoting excellence, integrity, and sound credit management practice across Nigeria.
In line with the Institute’s professional standards, inductees were instructed to log in at least five minutes before commencement to ensure a seamless and well-coordinated ceremony. The programme began with an opening address by the Master of Ceremony, Mrs. Agbadu Stella, 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 acknowledgement of NICA Council Members, including Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu, Prof. Felix, 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, the Deputy Chairman/Vice President, Dr. (Mrs.) Markie Idowu, represented him and delivered the President’s induction address. In her remarks, she commended the inductees for their decision to join NICA and emphasized that one of the key benefits of membership is networking. She encouraged members to reach out to the Institute whenever they need professional support, guidance, or collaboration, describing NICA as a strong network of credit professionals bound by ethics and shared purpose.
A Council Member, Prof. Felix, also gave a brief introduction, restating NICA’s core values of integrity, professionalism, accountability, and excellence. He urged the inductees to embody these values and contribute meaningfully to the reputation of the Institute and the credit management profession.
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. Dumebi Ibegbulem who led the inductees in pledging commitment to uphold NICA’s professional ethics and standards marking their official admission into the Institute.
In his charge to the newly inducted members, the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Chris Onalo, congratulated the inductees and reminded them that beyond the benefits of membership, they are ambassadors of NICA and must represent the Institute with dignity, discipline, and integrity. He encouraged them to be active and engaged, assuring that they would find themselves more professionally involved in NICA than in any other association they may belong to.
Prof. Onalo announced that the Institute is working toward introducing Credit Administration as an academic programme in Nigerian universities to be studied from the bachelor’s to doctoral levels, as is done in other countries. He also highlighted the upcoming NICA National Conference in November, encouraging members to attend physically and seize the opportunity to network with peers, learn from industry experts, and strengthen professional ties.
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 Professional Services Credit and Finance Management (PSCFM), who highlighted the importance of the College in promoting continuous learning and professional development. She encouraged members to join the PSCFM to enhance their knowledge and stay informed on credit and finance trends. She further noted that application forms are available through the Institute, emphasizing the College’s role as a key platform for ongoing education.
The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Danjuma, Director General, Adamawa State Credit Management Agency, on behalf of the men, and Madam Cassandra Chioma, on behalf of the women. Both 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.
In closing, the Deputy Chairman/Vice President, representing the Council President, officially declared the induction ceremony closed. She congratulated all newly inducted members and urged them to uphold the Institute’s values of professionalism, excellence, and ethical credit practice in their respective careers.
The 2025 NICA Membership Webinar Induction Ceremony was a remarkable success, reflecting the Institute’s steadfast commitment to fostering professionalism 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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