The National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Nigeria’s chartered professional body for credit management, has installed Dr. Markie Idowu as its first female president, marking a significant milestone for the industry.
NICA, established in 1992 and formally chartered by Act of Parliament No. 26 of 2022, serves as the premier regulatory and supervisory body for the credit management profession in Nigeria. The investiture ceremony, held in Lagos, underscored the institute’s newly empowered statutory role.
Registrar and Chief Executive Professor Chris Onalo highlighted the critical importance of the 2022 Act, which grants NICA full authority to regulate the profession. He described credit economy management as the “lifeblood of commerce,” fundamental to business access to capital and overall economic health. Renowned economist Professor Biodun Adedipe also addressed the gathering, presenting on “The Role of Credit in Nigerian Economic Transformation.”
In her inaugural address, Dr. Idowu pledged that NICA would proactively address professional challenges. She emphasized the need for deeper collaboration with the Federal Government to strengthen the credit ecosystem. A key ceremony moment was the conferral of professional fellowships on distinguished Nigerians, including Dr. Olusola Momoh, Vice Chairman of Channels Media Group. Two business leaders also received honorary fellowships.
NICA is recognized as the most prestigious body for credit management elites, business leaders, and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The leadership transition signifies a step toward greater diversity within the profession’s highest ranks. The institute’s enhanced regulatory mandate is expected to drive standards, ethics, and development in credit management, a sector pivotal for financing commerce and economic growth across the country. The event concluded with a call for sustained partnership between the institute, government, and the private sector to embed best practices in credit administration nationally.
