…Directs closer ties between NAGAFF and ITMT
The founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam was yesterday conferred and decorated as a grand Fellow of the Institute of Transport and Management Technology (ITMT).
The event which took place at the Neni Hall of the popular Rockview Hotels, Apapa in Lagos witnessed the NAGAFF leadership, members of NAGAFF, friends of NAGAFF including the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Chief Iju Tony Nwabunike and the media in attendance.
Dr. Aniebonam is the third Nigerian after Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd.) and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.) to receive the Grand Fellow of the institute.
Speaking shortly after his decoration, Dr. Aniebonam who is the first National President of NAGAFF, while thanking the institute for the honour done him and by extension, the entire NAGAFF family, observed that one of the basic intentions of NAGAFF was to build capacity and to ensure that the raw materials inherent in the port industry was given adequate attention through formal training.
He noted that the institute was founded to assist freight forwarders in modeling professionalism, meaning that people would go through formal training and be certified by an approved institute like the ITMT and with code of ethical standard, one can now be proud as a professional.
“That is the buildup of NAGAFF and that is what NAGAFF is doing everything to achieve. So, we have a lot to do with the institute and one of the major reasons I accepted to take responsibility in terms of accepting the conferment of this honour; that is the striking point.
“The truth is that some of us have done our bit, we are getting tired and the young ones can take responsibility to continue from where we stopped. The young ones must add value immediately and take advantage of the institute especially in matters that have to do with education. Without education, we cannot do much.
“So, as the founder of NAGAFF, I hereby direct that a closer tie be established with the Institute of Transport and (Management) Technology so that we begin to achieve or add further value to some of the things we have been able to do. Chairman of the Board, you heard me, get the system coordinated and make sure we do the right thing. The much we can do for the young freight forwarders is our interest now”, he stated.
Earlier in her address, the Rector of the institute, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Chibor disclosed that the institute singled out Dr. Aniebonam for the conferment as a result of his enormous contributions to the growth and development of the maritime industry in Nigeria adding that one cannot talk about maritime industry and trade facilitation without mentioning Dr. Aniebonam.
Chibor added that NAGAFF as far as she knew was the first freight forwarding association and had made tremendous impact in maritime business in Nigeria having thousands of members across the country.
She said, “We are celebrating an icon, a super brand, a brilliant, energetic, fearless and vocal personality, someone who always stands for the truth no matter whose ox is gored. He is the third person to be conferred in 36 years of the Grand Fellowship of the institute after Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni and Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs. Dr. has been so supportive in all the activities of the institute. He has been a Fellow of the institute since 2003.”
She however thanked the executives and members of NAGAFF for their cooperation within the periods and assured them that the relationship that had been established would be a lasting one.
Highlights of the event was the decoration of Dr. Aniebonam and presentation of a plaque and certificate to him by the Rector of Institute, Dr. Mrs. Lilian Chibor, goodwill messages from friends and well-wishers as well as group photographs with different groups at the event.
Photo 1: The founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam being decorated by the Rector, Institute of Transport and Management Technology (ITMT), Dr. Mrs. Lilian Chibor during the event at the Rockview Hotels, Apapa, Lagos on Thursday.
Photo 2: The founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (R) and the Rector of the Institute of Transport and Management Technology (ITMT), Dr. Mrs. Lilian Chibor posing for a photograph after Aniebonam’s decoration in Lagos on Thursday.
Photo 3: The founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam standing while his citation was being read at the event in Lagos on Thursday.
Photo 4: A cross-section of the members of the high table during the conferment of Grand Fellow of ITMT on Dr. Boniface Aniebonam in Lagos on Thursday.
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