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Determined To arm Nigerian women and youths with the relevant skills for productivity and home management, MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame(WoFHoF)Initiative has commenced the training and mentorship of micro and small business owners, women and youths under its Women In Leadership and Career Empowerment Programme(WILCEP) Africa Mentorship Programme.
The two days programme being the fourth edition in the series exposed participants on how to be a successful freight forwarder in the maritime industry; practical training on skills that will engage them as job creators instead of job seekers; packaging and branding knowledge for Nigeria and global market as well as processes of registering sustainable businesses.
The training which took place in Lagos, on day two focused on organic steps on how to produce liquid detergents, package and market them to the public
Delivering his paper on “Becoming a Super Freight Forwarder and Managing Import and Export, the Managing Director of Widescope International Nigeria Limited,Dr. Segun Musa x-rayed the concept of freight forwarding with the business and employment opportunities therein.
He discussed the traditional five modes of transportation, which are rail, land, pipeline, air and maritime in relation to freight forwarding, saying that cargo consolidation provides opportunities waiting to be tapped.
He identified areas for immediate engagement as being a haulage agent, warehousing agent, rail transportation agent, aircraft space buyer, being a cargo consolidator, among others, which do not require huge funds but knowledge and information to start.
Explaining that freight forwarding is capital intensive and requires synergy and facilities, he advised prospective entrant to seek knowledge first before money. In his words:”Acquire the right skills and knowledge, read relevant books, go through the tutelage of a mentor, continue to reinvest in the business that brings the money; when you know the job, money will be looking for you”.
He noted that being a freight forwarder comes with a price, and advised that the practitioner must be rugged, be passionate with the job, be able to go extra miles for clients, be transparent, have integrity to be able to be a super freight forwarder. He regretted however that mentorship is lacking in Nigeria because many established professionals do not have time to mentor younger generations.
Dr. Segun promised to sponsor the registration of business enterprises for interested women and youths who participated in the programme.
In her presentation,the Chief Executive Officer of Supremegee Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Grace Essien-Ndieze,who took participants on the “Organic Steps to Producing and Packaging Insecticides, Disinfectants and Liquid Soaps” advised women and youths to prioritize value addition with little savings instead of going for exorbitant phones and indiscriminate purchase of data for social engagements. She advised that such funds should be deployed to acquiring different skills that would be beneficial to them. In her words, “With as little as 2,000 one can start producing detergents and disinfectants to sell at micro level and augment feeding allowances given by husbands or parents at home.
The resource persons called on corporate organizations to key into the mentorship programmes to help grow capacities in the sector.
According to the Executive Secretary of MMS WoFHOF Initiative, Mrs Ifeoma Iloh, the programme was aimed at equipping participants with relevant professional knowledge and skills in the production of household consumable items that would help them have improved livelihood and contribute to their respective family needs.
Some beneficiaries of the programme said the training content was worth the time. Mrs. Anthonia Williams, a participant said skills have became indispensable with developments in the country, saying that it would have cost her fortunes to learn it elsewhere on her own. She said she would deploy the knowledge immediately at micro level and sell the products in her local church and market.
Another participant, a 12 -year old Miracle Aniefiok of Frontmark College Orile Iganmu – Lagos, said he hope to make more money in future while applying the skills he has learnt today.
Participants were also trained on basic precautionary and safety procedures involved in the production process.
