Registered freight forwarders and some accredited training institutions of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have expressed divergent views on how to make training of freight forwarders a success.
At a meeting organised by CRFFN last Friday and which was attended by leaders of all the accredited freight forwarding associations and heads of some of the accredited institutions, the stakeholder stated that there should be aggressive awareness campaign by CRFFN for it to reach practitioners nationwide.
Registered freight forwarders and some accredited training institutions of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) have expressed divergent views on how to make training of freight forwarders a success.
At a meeting organised by CRFFN last Friday and which was attended by leaders of all the accredited freight forwarding associations and heads of some of the accredited institutions, the stakeholder stated that there should be aggressive awareness campaign by CRFFN for it to reach practitioners nationwide.
Speaking at the event, President General, Nigeria Association of Freight Forwarders and Air Consolidators (NAFFAC), C.A.T Agubamah said that for the council to succeed in training freight forwarders, it has to impact on the freight forwarders.
Agubamah noted that 60% of registered companies under CRFFN do not have any commitment to their staff urging the council to look inwards in that regards.
He also urged the council to scrutinise its register of companies, stressing that there is the need for adequate training of staff.
"We at NAFFAC knows that training is a difficult thing to sell and at NAFFAC we are subsiding the very cost of our members", he said.
Commenting further, he appealed to the accredited institutions to inform the freight forwarders the courses that will be offered, because according to him, there is need to know the kind of courses the various institutes offer.
Also speaking, President of ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu charged the council on the reason for accreditation of the institutions; saying maintenance of standard should be their watchword.
He called for standard in the training of freight forwarders by the institutes, stressing that the institutes should train agents at a convenient point closer to their work place.
Shittu added that ANLCA will continue to support CRFFN for it to succeed in the training mandate.
On his part, the Vice President, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders in Nigeria (AREFFN), Mr. Innocent Elum called for unity among freight forwarding associations in line with the training programme.
The AREFFN boss harped on the need for harmony among practitioners, noting that training of freight forwarders should not need to enmity among the various associations.
He called on CRFFN to make it mandatory for all associations to train their members, even as he added that practitioners who fail to partake in the training programmes should be de registered by CRFFN.
Also speaking deputy president, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Emmanuel Akili said that most freight agents, do not see value in training but added that CRFFN should encourage such set of practitioners to get the required knowledge expected to meet with international best practice.
Akili urged the council to hold meeting with associations on regular basis adding that monthly meetings with the associations will address key issues surrounding freight forwarding operations at the ports.
Speaking on behalf of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Deputy President, Barrister Fred Akokhia pointed out that lack of training of the practitioners will make them irrelevant in the profession.
However the Coordinator of CRFFN, FIATA Redeemer's University Professor Olumakinde Odugbemi charged the council to embark on awareness campaign to ensuring that the targeted are well informed about the training.
Odugbemi added that CRFFN has a fantastic curriculum and also the need to engage the younger practitioners, who may face some challenges that centre on finance.
On his part, director transport technology centre of Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Engineer Elkana Ngbele called on the council to engage freight forwarders on regular basis on the need on how to participate on the training.
Also Rector Emdee shipping school, Mr. Chidere Chigozie advocated for massive awareness programme for the freight agents because according to him, it goes beyond classroom teaching .
He said for CRFFN to get the required result in training the practitioners, advertising is key.
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