An association of businesses or companies within a particular industry is known as an industrial association, and its core purpose is to promote the interests of members to the government in order to secure favourable economic policies among other industrial targets.
Industrial associations are needed to work out the enabling environments and economic supports required by industrial businesses to meet their business objectives in providing goods and services to the people.
Industrial associations provide the much-needed supports needed by emerging entrepreneurs and existing businesses to succeed by helping out with industrial training, logistics, funding and settling disputes among members.
So new businesses and established entrepreneurs are encouraged to join any relevant industrial association to enjoy their umbrella protection and to access benefits and influences that such associations have from the government.
Some of these industrial associations are the following –
Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI)
Founded in 1978, NASSI was established to protect the interests of small-scale industrialists by obtaining economic and governmental supports for members.
To this end, the association exists to organize trade exhibitions, trade fairs, seminars and conferences among others to members. NASSI also exists to off loans to members and also provide business advice and market supports to members.
National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME)
NASME was founded in 1996 as part of the Business Membership Organization (BMO) to nurture and coordinate the activities of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria.
The association promotes capacity building and promotes policy advocacy among its members while also networking with the government and industry stakeholders to advance the welfare or interests of its members.
Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)
NACCIMA was established in 1960 to synthesis the welfare and interests of trade groups, financiers, agriculturists, manufacturers, and miners among others in promoting economic values and activities among members.
The association serves to advance the core objectives of members by providing partnership contacts, marketing opportunities, helping with expansions, accessing raw materials, facilitating loans, and boosting economic growths among others in the country.
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)
SMEDAN was established in 2003 to basically help small and medium-scale businesses with the resources they need to succeed in the business space.
The government is aware that new and young businesses cannot survive in the competitive arena dominated by larger corporations and multi-national conglomerates, and so provides such micro and small ventures with the umbrella protection they need to grow stronger and find a successful footing in the business world.
Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA)
Established in 1959, NECA was founded to both protect the interests of employers and employees in Nigeria. It advocates that potential employees must be well educated and trained for their desired jobs and that employers pay fair wages or salaries to employees without discriminations.
The organization also works to ensure that favourable laws are passed by legislators to favour employers or staffers and that there are good relationships that foster creative works between employers and employees.