NAGAFF Academy Holds 3rd Matriculation Ceremony
The Nagaff Academy’s 3rd matriculation ceremony held Friday, at the Nagaff Village Apapa, Lagos.
With Lecturers and matriculating students undergoing the routine procession in their numbers, led by the the Registrar, Fwdr. Francis Omotosho, the Academy Board Chairman, Fwdr. Simeon Nwonu and the Chairman Board of Trustees of Nagaff, Fwdr. Chidiebere Enelamah, in their full academic regalia.
The event was declared open by the Founder Nagaff and Forwarder General of Nigeria, Dr Boniface O. Aniebonam who underlined the importance of the Nagaff Academy by stating enthusiastically that the Academy students and graduates are indeed the owners of Nagaff. Dr. Aniebonam remarked that academy has come to show professionalism.
In his words, “for you to call yourself a professional, you must have undergone training and retraining in a reputable institution like the Nagaff Academy.” advising that people should show interest in learning to defend their territory and profession.
” If you are not educated, a day will come when you will not have access to the sea. That may also happen when a proper management of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding In Nigeria (CRFFN) is in place,” he said.
Dr Aniebonam disclosed that students and graduates of the Academy must be given priority to vie for positions at Nagaff, while women must begin to enjoy the same privilege, he said they should be given the opportunity to run unopposed.
Delivering his lecture at the graduation ceremony, the guest Lecturer, Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (ES/C.E.O) Nigerian Shippers’Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, represented by the Director Consumer Protection NSC, Dr Cajetan Chukwemeka Agu revealed that before the Advent of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding In Nigeria (CRFFN) in 2007, the Freight Forwarders largely depended on their various Associations for training and direction but the CRFFN was introduced to professionalize Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria. He stated that the handling of cargo requires specialized care which is only given by a professional. The practicioners he disclosed must update themselves frequently to fit into modern tends in freight Forwarding.
According to Agu, ” the role of Freight Forwarding in the economy of any nation can never be over emphasised and cannot be overlooked.
It is the role of a freight Forwarder to ensure proper packing of cargo for shipment. Warehousing and distribution services also fall under their purview. It is also the responsibility of the freight Forwarder to give advice on shipment requirements and they act as Agents to source for transportation space,” he said.
Furthermore, “Agu stated that a Freight Forwarder is an all rounder and has access to global best practices. They also help to track the movement of cargoes which brings us to the use of modern technologies, without the movement of cargoes from one part of the world to others, the world economies will suffer and eventually collapse. The Freight Forwarders are the first line of trade facilitators and they are also very knowledgeable in classification of goods.”
Agreeing with Dr Aniebonam’s view, Agu advised that in order to remain relevant in the value chain, practicioners should endeavor to go on training and retraining to update the skills.
For Professor Iyiola Oni of the Department of Transportation Studies University of Lagos, Dr. Aniebonam should be given kudos for ensuring that the Job of freight forwarding is knowledge based. He advised Matriculants to pay attention to grab what is being dished out in their classes as this will ensure they eventually come good in their chosen profession.
Capping it up, the Nagaff Academy Board Chairman, Fwdr. Simeon Nwonu said that Dr. Aniebonam has played a very pivotal role in the success story of the academy, we cannot thank the Founder enough, ” he has always written his name gold. I also thank the B.O.T Chairman, Fwdr. Chidiebere Enelamah for his timely advices to the Academy leading to improvement.” He equally was grateful to Professor Oni for his intellectual inputs and always being there to guide the Academy. He also noted the fatherly role being played by the Nagaff President, Fwdr. Tochukwu Ezisi.
Nwonu revealed that the Academy is in advanced talks with the board of Technical Education in Nigeria for certification of the Nagaff Academy.
Reiterating Founder’s view about Ellections in Nagaff, Nwonu says, “Nagaff has made it mandatory for anybody seeking elective office in Nagaff to have passed through the Academy. Until you begin to have technical knowledge of the freight forwarding profession, you have not started practicing,” he said.
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