The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) Sunday said it has discovered an alleged plan by Mr. Kenule Nwiya, Chief Executive Officer of Ken-Eva, to destabilise the forthcoming Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit scheduled to hold in September 2026.
A statement issued by the secretary of NDCCITMA Board, Chief Solomon Edebiri, said it had initially resolved not to join issues with Mr. Nwiya over what it described as frivolous, baseless and misleading claims concerning the alleged indiscriminate use of his trademark.
The chambers, however, said it has become necessary to set the records straight and draw the attention of the public to the facts surrounding the matter.
For the records, it is pertinent to state that, contrary to an advert placed on AIT and circulating on some media outlets, NDCCITMA did not at any time approach the claimant to seek permission to use the purported trademark name,” the statement said.
The chambers added that following the conception of the name and acronym “Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit,” it proceeded with the necessary registration process.
NDCCITMA said its application was received and approved by the relevant department of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Industry on 16 August 2026, while the application purportedly filed by Mr. Nwiya was received on 3 September, 2026.
The chambers questioned the basis of the claimant’s assertions, noting that there was no credible evidence of an earlier approval or acceptance of the claimant’s application by the relevant government agency.
NDCCITMA described the allegations as an attempt at blackmail and an affront to the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta, adding that the proposed summit was conceived to promote economic development, investment, trade and regional cooperation in the Niger Delta region.
The Chambers further stated that, despite interventions by prominent personalities from the region aimed at resolving the disagreement amicably, Mr. Nwiya had allegedly continued along what it described as a path capable of undermining the summit and weakening the collective aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.