RE: NITT, ABU ROMANCE: IS NITT LOSING ITS IDENTITY?

The attention of the management of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology NITT, Zaria has been drawn to an article titled “NITT, ABU Romance:  Is NITT losing its identity” published by the Maritime Management Series MMS Plus, Lagos on Sunday, 21st August, 2016 in which the writer criticizes our affiliation to ABU, Zaria.  Whatever is the motive behind the write up, we do not intend to engage in unnecessary arguments, but we just want to put the records straight.

Since inception, the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, has been operating within the ambit of its enabling Act.  The Institute is law abiding and highly abhors circumventing its mandate.

For the information of the author of the article, MMS Plus, the general Public and Mr. Lexzy Nwangwu who describe the affiliation to ABU as wrong, we wish to categorically state that in lawful pursuit of its mandate and the quest to professionalize the industry, NITT runs a number of professional programmes ranging from Certificate in Transport and Logistics (CTL) to Masters in Transport and Logistics (MTL).  While the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma programmes are standardized and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) International, UK, the Postgraduate and Masters programmes are run in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria.

Thus, it is only the postgraduate programmes i.e Post Graduate Diploma in Transport and Logistics and Masters in Transport and Logistics which are affiliated to ABU which run similar programmes.  The long-term programmes started in 1990, with the founding of the Transport School and it was as a result of demand for higher qualification from the industry, that NITT responded by introducing the Post Graduate programmes in 2008.

The other programmes i.e Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma all in transport and logistics are standardized by the Chartered Institute of Transport CILT with its headquarters in London, United Kingdom, a global body in over 100 countries of the world.

The two programmes (PGDTL and MTL) were initially affiliated to University of Pretoria, South Africa, but based on the advice of the federal Ministry of Education that any affiliation should be within 200 kilometers from the headquarters of the Institution, NITT decided to cancel its affiliation with University of Pretoria and opted for ABU, Zaria in 2011.

ABU was chosen because apart from being the nearest institution to NITT, Zaria, it runs similar programmes and that makes it easier for coordination and monitoring.

So contrary to the views expressed by Chief Lexzy Nwangwu of the African Federation of Freight Forwarders  our affiliation or romance with ABU as the writer puts it, does not  in any way contravened the law of the land neither was it wrong, but a right step in the right direction. Again ABU remains a force to be reckoned with as far as the country‘s educational system and University Education are concerned. For the records we are not in any way losing our identity because we are in strong collaboration with relevant professional bodies such as Transport Technological institutions which are adding value to our professional programmes which is the main mandate of the Institute.  For the avoidance of doubt after completing these programmes, the graduands gain automatic membership of CILT. Thousands of those employed in the industry who have passed through NITT programmes have become members of this global body.

Our main mandate is to professionalize the industry and we are doing that to the best of our ability in partnership with other sister organizations.  Apart from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, we are in strong partnership with Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) of London UK, Gateshead College Newcastle, UK, Korea Transport Institute (KOTI), South Korea, National Institute of Transport (NIT), Dares Salam, Tanzania   and West African Management Development Institute’s Network (WAMDEVIN).

Also, the quality of NITT’s facilities and resource persons is not in doubt.  The license recently granted to NITT by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to run Port Workers Development Programme for the training of dockworkers in Nigeria is a global validation of the Institute’s programmes. Similarly, the fact that our participants are drawn from some West African countries such as Cameroun, Chad, Niger, Senegal, among others, is another attestation to the standard and international reach of NITT’s programmes.

It might interest MMS Plus reporters to know that our unassuming DG/CE Dr. Aminu Musa Yusuf (FCILT) would graciously oblige them necessary information on the activities and programmes of the institute if they so wish. The article would have been unnecessary had it been the institute was contacted. We also appreciate the efforts of the management of MMS plus in publicizing our activities and we will continue to count on their support.

By Paul Ali Mshelizah

Head, Press and Public Relations (NITT)