By Loveth Anyaegbunam
The managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho and the Late Lady Margaret Orakwusi, were part of the fifteen persons conferred with the Role Model awards by Women in Logistics and Transport(WiLAT) Nigeria to mark her 2024 WILAT Day which took place on Thursday in Lagos.
Other award recipients are: The managing director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria(FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku;Mrs.Oritsematosan Edodoemore, Chairman, Zoe Maritime Resources Limited;Engr.(Mrs) Abimbola Akinajo, managing director, Lagos Mass Transit Authority(LAMATA); Mrs. Vivian Richard-Edet, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, NPA; Mrs. Wunmi Eniola Jegede,Group Coordinating Director, Sifax Group; Dr. (Mrs.) Hope Iloka,Director Medical Services, Nigeria Railway Corporation(NRC); Ms. Adaora Nwonu,deputy director, Trade and Services, Nigerian Shippers’ Council(NSC).
Others include:Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar, Executive Director,Engineering and Technical Services,NPA; Engr.Olalekan Abdul-Rahaman,Executive Director, Marine and Operations,NPA and Capt.(Dr.) Anthony Onoharigho, Rector,Conarina Maritime Academy, Abraka, Delta State.
On the post-humous award category, Late Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson; late Mrs. Toyin Oluwole; late Mrs. Lizzy Obvude joined Orakwusi who was a towering amazon in the maritime industry before death struck last year.
The event with the theme:”Enhancing Transport and Logistics in a Digitized Economy” featured paper presentations by eminent resource persons.
In her paper presentation titled, “Innovation Action: Transforming Logistics and Transport for the Future” Ms Convenant Oboigbe –Billy projected the potentials of the Nigeria’s logistics industry thus:”While the logistics industry in Nigeria has faced numerous challenges,it has not only remained stable but is also projected to grow substantially.
“The Nigeria freight and Logistics Market size is estimated at USD 10.2billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 15.05billion by 2030,growing at a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 6.70 per cent during the forecast period”, she added.
She highlighted the prevailing challenges in the nation’s logistics industry that digitalization could solve as complex supply chain, high operational costs, the need for real-time information ,manual processes, lack of transparency and inefficiencies.
According to her, the impact of digitalization which entails application of digital technologies include automated process,provision of real-time data, enhanced visibility across the supply chain and improved efficiency.
Oboigbe-Billy posited that digitalization in the industry is no longer optional but an imperative for survival and growth in the global economy while listing port of Rotterdam and Lome as highly automated and smarts ports of choice in the world and Africa.
