Nigerians who wish to engage in the import and export business have been asked to seek guidance and enlightenment and get adequately equipped before venturing into the murky waters of international trade.
The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello gave this advise in Warri, the Delta State capital on Thursday at the 8th Annual Shipping Career Summit organized by Nigeria’s leading maritime media firm, Ships & Ports Communication Company.
Speaking on the topic “How To Become An Effective Exporter/Importer”, Bello said that the while the importing and exporting business is “very exciting and potentially lucrative”, the Federal Government’s policy thrust is that of diversifying the nation’s foreign exchange earning base in the realisation that the country needs other sources of revenue apart from oil for its economic revival.
“International trade business is a tool for achieving government’s yearning for drastic reduction of poverty in our nation. Would-be international traders need to realize, however, that unlike domestic trade, international trade entails greater caution and imposes enormous responsibilities because of the differences in regulations, cultures, currencies, languages and dispositions of the trading partners involved,” the NSC boss who was represented by an Assistant Chief Operations Officer, Miss Adaora Nwonu, stated.
He advised importers and exporters to take advantage of the various agencies and facilities established by government for the promotion of international trade “to ensure they become effective in their business”.
In her own presentation titled “How To Become An Effective Maritime Lawyer”, President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere said that Maritime Lawyers are among the highest paid professionals in the shipping sector.
While encouraging the Summit participants who were mostly youths to embrace Maritime Law as a career, Anishere stated, “Our legal fees are quite attractive. Sometimes, we are paid in dollars, shipping being an international subject. However, like in Taiwan, maritime lawyers do not necessarily work on an hourly basis. This is because unlike the foreign clients, indigenous clients are not willing to accept hourly rates. They prefer fixed fees and/or contingency fees on a percentage basis only.”
Over 200 persons including youths and adults were exposed to the numerous career and investment opportunities that abound in the nation’s maritime sector during the Summit held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Warri, Delta State. The participants were drawn from states in the country’s south-south geo-political zone.
In her opening remarks at the event, the Annual Shipping Career Summit Coordinator, Ms Eucharia Okoli, said that the event which has been held in six other states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was her company’s contribution to address the dearth of manpower in the maritme industry and to broaden the knowledge of Nigerians about the industry.
“There is so much that all of you can gain and the Nigerian economy can gain from the shipping sector. For over eight years, our campaign to young Nigerians has always been “Go to Sea” and we are happy that this is paying off. The turn-out at the event today is very impressive and encouraging. We need this critical mass to make the desired change in the shipping sector,” Okoli stated.
Former National President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) Captain Adewale Ishola who chaired the Summit, admonished the participants to take advantage of the opportunity of the enlightenemnt programme to better their lot.
Ishola who said he had participated in all past editions of the Summit said government agencies in the maritime industry particularly the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) took a clue from the Summit to develop the National Seafarers Development programme (NSDP) which over 17 states government have keyed into.
On hand to expose the participants to various career and investment opportunities offered by the shipping sector were the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) represented by Assistant Chief Operations Officer, Miss Adaora Nwonu; President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere; Chairman, ANLCA, Delta/Edo Chapter, Chief Tony Okome; and the Deputy Director, Warri Port, Nigerian Shipper Council, Mr. Phillip Eduwa, among others.
