The President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Tochukwu Ezisi, has dissolved the association’s standing committees and named new members as he begins a repositioning process.
Ezisi announced the dissolution of the committees last week during the association’s enlarged National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos with the theme, “A New Chapter, A Renewed Commitment.”
The reconstituted standing committees and their heads include General Policy, headed by Dr. Eugene Nweke, with Dr. Segun Musa as secretary; Trade Facilitation, chaired by Fred Ajuzia, with Stanley Ezenga as secretary; and Publicity, Education and Enlightenment, headed by Dr. Clement Iwegbuna, with Ruth Sunday as secretary, among others.
Similarly, Ezisi appointed Jerry Nwokedi as the sole administrator of the Onne Seaport chapter, with Ralph Nwoye as secretary, following the declaration by the former interim chairman, Ike Anselm Okechukwu, to contest in the forthcoming election.
Addressing the NEC, Ezisi said an internal reform was imperative, stating that the association needed to move beyond surface-level achievements to confronting structural weaknesses that limit its potential. He also raised the association’s chapter monthly levy of N200,000 to N300,000.
He stated that “when chapter executives fail to invest in the association, and national officers treat their roles as ceremonial, there cannot be meaningful results.”
Noting that the association’s strength lies in its chapters’ collective commitment and the functionality of its internal systems, Ezisi frowned at the declining financial and strategic contributions from some chapters and their growing disconnect between its national officers and their core responsibilities.
Against the listed anomalies, Ezisi said that henceforth, there will be performance metrics to evaluate contributions and identify execution gaps in the leadership. He added that all national officers would also face a rigorous induction process to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities.
Optimistic about NAGAFF’s success and future, however, the president commended those who have remained committed to the cause of lifting the association, stating that this “is the time to regroup, rethink and relaunch. We have a duty to reposition NAGAFF as a model for professionalism, advocacy and reform.”
In his keynote address, Dr. Eugene Nweke, urged the association to embrace strategic planning, technological innovation and global partnerships as it navigates the freight forwarding industry’s rapidly evolving landscape.
The former president, who is also the Head of Research at Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC), said the industry is undergoing transformative changes, driven by digital innovation, shifting global trade policies and changing consumer expectations.
To that end, he urged NAGAFF to build strong relationships with government agencies, shipping companies, logistics and other relevant stakeholders, insisting that collaboration is key to protecting and promoting members’ interests.
Nweke further urged the association and members to adopt digital freight innovations, blockchain, and artificial intelligence by leveraging the necessary training and resources to transition to a tech-driven operational model. This, he stated, will enable them remain relevant and resilient in the ever changing global industry.
