By Kenneth Jukpor
The Publisher of MMS Plus newspaper, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, a former President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Increase Uche and other eminent personalities were given Excellence Awards by Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), yesterday.
APFFLON rolled out the awards as part of activities to mark its end of year celebration which saw a rare combination of freight forwarders from various groups in unity at the Murtala Muhammed Airport chapter.
Other awardees were; TVC’s Mrs. Ifunaya Eze, Publisher of Shipping Position newspaper, Mr. Sesan Onilemo, Customs Area Controller, MMA, Comptroller Sambo Dangaladima, President of the Association of Registered Freight Forwarders Nigeria (AREFFN), Alhaji Bala Daura, NAGAFF’s Assistant Secretary General, Chief Dipo Olayoku, Public Relations Officer, Tin Can Island Customs, Mr. Uche Ejesieme, and Mr. Victor Oteri.
Speaking at the event, the National President of APFFLON, Otunba Frank Ogunojemite expressed delight at the opportunity to aggregate all freight forwarders irrespective of their differences, noting that APFFLON had enjoyed goodwill and support from the respective groups.
Ogunojemite, however, drew the attention of the participants to the association’s cooperative initiative which is also willing to finance business projects of freight forwarders who may have contracts but lack the required funds to execute the business.
He stressed that the association was also concerned about the health and wellbeing of freight forwarders, hence it organized the free medical outreach as part of its end of year celebration on Wednesday.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Increase Uche thanked APFFLON for the award, even as he seized the opportunity to push for a single national association of freight forwarders that would truly prioritize and protect the interest of practitioners.
Referring to his recent declaration as persona non grata by NAGAFF leadership, he maintained that he owes no one an apology at the association as he never erred or brought disrepute to the association.
He, however, declared that he currently plays the role of the President of the Independent Candidates contesting the Governing Board elections of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike commended APFFLON for its role in deepening the unity among freight forwarders.
Nwabunike, who was represented by the Chairman of MMA Chapter of ANLCA, Mr. Kehinde Akintola also identified the move by APFFLON to provide medical counsel and free medication as a commendable effort.
Mr. Akintola stressed the need for practitioners to be more focused on addressing the issues that frustrates their businesses rather than unhealthy rivalry and fracas.
