The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has concluded plans to introduce Degree programmes in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management at all levels of the Nigerian Universities in the next one year.
The Registrar of CRFFN, Sir Mike Jukwe who disclosed this in a paper titled, “Making a Career in Freight Forwarding in Nigeria –Freight Forwarding Profession in Nigeria in the Next Five Years”, which he presented at the Maritime National Discourse organized by Platform Communications in Lagos last week also said that the Council was optimistic that in the next five (5) years, if the practitioners avail themselves of the education opportunities provided by the Council, the country would be boasting of over 5000 graduates of Freight Forwarding.
Represented by the Head, Corporate Affairs of the Council, Mrs. Chinyere Uromta, Jukwe stated that with the training of 5,000 graduates in Freight forwarding and Supply Chain Management in the next 5 years in the country, it would change the public perception of the Freight Forwarding Profession as the practitioners would no longer be despised rather, they would be the envy of other professions.
“Consequently, this will equally lead to employment opportunities as well as wealth creation which will boost the revenue base of the country”, he said.
The CRFFN boss pointed out that Nigeria was in need of practitioners that have in-depth knowledge and technical know-how that was needed to reposition the industry for attainment of international best practices.
“For this reasons, Management team of the Council sought membership of Nigeria into the World Body of Freight Forwarding -the International Federation of Freight forwarding (FIATA), in 2010, which was a landmark achievement.
“Consequently, three Training-of-Trainers programmes in Freight Forwarding were held for the first time in Nigeria in 2012, after which Nigeria’s Professional Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management to be issued by FIATA was accredited in USA in October, 2012. The Diploma programme was introduced in Nigeria for the first time.
“Similarly, three Training-of-Trainers programmes in Supply Chain Management were held for the first time in Nigeria in 2013, after which Nigeria’s Professional Higher Diploma was accredited in Singapore in October 2013. The Higher Diploma Programme was introduced in Nigeria for the first time.
“CRFFN has long commenced the certificate in Freight Forwarding, the International Professional Diploma in Freight and Higher Diploma in Supply Chain Management for the first time in 2014 at the accredited Training Institutions nationwide with Sixty Four (64) participants”.
Jukwe continued, “In an effort to introduce National Diploma and Higher Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management in our great country, the Curriculum Development Planning Workshop was held by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) and CRFFN in NITT, Zaria from Monday, 17th to Wednesday, 19th August, 2015.
“It was a highly technical exercise to enable CRFFN to domesticate the accreditation of the Diploma and Higher Diploma in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management granted to Nigeria in 2012 in the United States of America and in Singapore respectively by the Switzerland based International Regulator and World Body of Freight Forwarders, International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA).
“Hopefully, this will be achieved this year (2015) so that ND and HND in Freight Forwarding and Supply Chain Management will be among the courses to be offered at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) into Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Monotechnics.
“Likewise, CRFFN will embark on introducing degree programmes in Freight Forwarding and Supply Management at all levels next year, 2016”.
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