The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA National President, Mr. Emenike Nwokeoji has inaugurated the Eastern zonal presidential committee of the Association.
Speaking to Newsmen on the sideline of the event, the National President said this was to replicate what happened in Lagos recently where their Western zonal committee was inaugurated.
He added that because of the economic situation in the country at the moment and to save the committee members from the risks and hassles of traveling to Lagos, he decided to segment it and inaugurate them at the ANLCA Secretariat, Onne, Rivers State.
He said the essence of the National Committee was borne out of the conviction that the industry is large and one person alone serving as a chapter or zonal executive officer would not be able to interface with the various government agencies and parastatals involved in the freight forwarding and clearing business, noting the enormity of the job necessitated the constitution and inauguration of the committee to complement the works of the chapter executives of the Association, warning against any form of unhealthy rivalry between the presidential committee and zonal or chapter executive
“Please avoid conflict with the zonal or chapter executive. Remember we have all the positions contested and won but because the industry is too large with many government agencies, shipping companies and other stakeholders that are involved in our job, we decided to inaugurate this committee.”
Continuing, Nwokeoji said, the inauguration would come in phases even as he reminded those in this phase which he referred to as phase 1,to expect some members to join them in the future.
He warned that they should not look at themselves as alternatives to the chapter executive but to complement them to ensure that members would not suffer unnecessarily during the course of their business but to assist them in any capacity possible.
“Those of you appointed should work with your members and know this is not a one man business”
You are not an alternative to the chapter executive or the zonal” You are not going there as an investigative team but to complement what they are doing, “Nwokeoji said.
Reiterating the need for a harmonious working relationship among them and executives on ground, he said “we will not tolerate whereby because you are wearing identity card that bears national, you look down on the elected officers”, that according to him would not be tolerated even as he enjoined them to work with their terms of reference and contact him for clarification if the need arises.
Also speaking, the former National President of ANLCA, Chief Ernest Elochukwu admonished the committee members on the essence of joining an association which he said was for the overall protection of common interest of the members.
He charged the committee members to know that having been appointed and inaugurated they should start work immediately but cautioned that one major thing is that “we must know our limit and because you are appointed as committee members or special assistant to the President you are now carrying an air of superiority over the elected officers.”
He said, members should consult when necessary and avoid competition, noting that with corporation the Association can achieve more instead of competition which he insisted brings negative results”
On his part, the Eastern zonal Coordinator, Mr. Joshua Ahuama, charged the committee members to make sure they study the Association’s constitution. According to him, such would put them in proper perspective of what the Association stands for.
He thanked the National President for his magnanimity in bringing the inauguration to the East which he said has saved the committee members a lot of stress.
He said the zone would not appoint any other committee but to work with the Presidential committee to avoid conflict of interest even as he advocated a cordial working relationship among members for the unity and overall interest of the Association.
Highpoint of the event was the inauguration of the four committees and the swearing in of members.
The committee includes Terminals, Customs CPA and FOU headed by Mr. Obi Chima with Chief Maximus Ananaba as Secretary. PMTF, East, to be chaired by Mr. Ben Ejiogu while Ahmed Zacca would serve as Secretary and Theddy Alozie as member.
While Tycon Onwumere takes charge as chairman Shipping company and Bonded Warehouse, Macdonald Ekeke would act as the Secretary and Pastor Jerry Nwachukwu is a member of the committee.
For Government Agencies, Mr. Ijere Ibiam is the Chairman while Tob Ndukwe is the Secretary, Chukwu Nnanna and Solomon Nnamocha are members.
More so, the second Senior Special Assistant to the National President on special duties, Dr Ifeanyi Asogwa was sworn in.
Commenting on their inauguration, Dr Ifeanyi Asogwa thanked the National president for finding them worthy to work with him. He promised that they would cooperate with the national President, for the upliftment of the Association even as he called for unity among members.
Rtn Chukwu Nnanna said the time to rally round the President is now insisting that the president has demonstrated the willingness to carry everybody along as according to him, his appointment cut across those that were originally in opposition. Saying “everybody should come together, when we are united, our members stand to gain.” On the issue of conflict, he said there should be constant interaction among all the executive and the presidential committee members for a harmonious working relationship.
COWA Commissions Projects In Onne, Donates Food Items to Widows
Customs officers’ Wives Association (COWA) Onne Area 11 Command has commissioned a Secretariat, Canteen and unisex Salon, donates food items to widows of the Command our correspondent reports.
The Association said the measure was part of her efforts to improve the welfare of officers’ wives at the Port Harcourt Area 11 customs Command, Onne Rivers State.
Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi national President of the Association during the commissioning on Thursday at Onne, advised officers on designated ranks (ASC) to encourage their spouses to join and participate in COWA activities.
According to Adeniyi, the benefits are enormous as the association since inception has continued to embark on projects that have greatly impacted positively on humanity.
The President commended the Onne command for collaboration which she said had enabled COWA activities to thrive.
“I am happy with all the programs and projects that you have undertaken, these programs are in line with the objectives of COWA which is geared towards improved welfare of members and the public,” she said.
Earlier, Mrs Yakaka Imam, wife of the Onne Commandant and host at the event, thanked the President and her team for the visit and pledged the chapter’s support for the ideal of the union.
Meanwhile, some of the beneficiaries have commended COWA for the gesture, Mrs. Ogba Joan, one of them noted that cash gifts, bags of rice and other consumables formed part of items distributed to widows.
In his contribution, the Secretary General ANLCA Onne Seaport chapter, Deancon Chinedu Ikenga of prestige Associates Bonded terminals lauded the COWA project. According to him, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi has done well in a short period of her assumption of office. He said he was not surprised at the level of revitalization going on in COWA which he likened to the leadership quality and style of the Comptroller General of Customs Mr Adewale Adeniyi which the wife has keyed into.
He pledged the unalloyed support of ANLCA to COWA activities.
In his reaction, Acting Customs Area controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, Comptroller Kayode Kolade insisted that the resuscitation of COWA was opt as according to him, “We need our wives to help cushion the effects of job and stress”
Speaking further, he noted that “COWA was dead seven years ago but we thank our able and pragmatic Comptroller General of Customs CGC Adewale Adeniyi for his wisdom and courage for this development. We shall continue to support our wives on meaningful and viable projects aimed to touch lives and reduce suffering in our fold
For the Managing Director and Chairman Odest Bonded Terminal, Mr. Chidera, Oganuzor “COWA is a good development to give officers wives a sense of belonging.”
He reiterated that donations and gifts are ways to touch lives and urged for support of such gestures.
The event featured cultural dance displays, commissioning of COWA office, Canteen and distribution of food items, among others
COWA President Visits customs Zone C, Area 1 PH, Promises Empowerment, Others
The National President, Customs officers’ wives Association, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, says she is poised to focus on specific areas of needs of her members to enable them effectively set up and manage businesses without compromising their duties on the home front.
This disclosure was made to Newsmen during her maiden visit to Nigeria Customs Service Zone C, Zonal Headquarters Area 1,Port Harcourt Rivers on Wednesday.
Adeniyi who outlined the aims of COWA which include organizing seminars and workshops for wives of Customs officers and members of the larger society, promoting activities that will support the federal government’s poverty eradication programme as well as reducing infant and maternal mortality, promoting and supporting the welfare of Customs wives and establishing schools and skills acquisition centers said they have strong and active Board of Trustees and executives to drive their objectives, even as she said they have identified some specific areas of needs for her members which according to her, include training of members on family health and well-being, skills acquisition, business training and empowerment programnes.
Others include support to the wives and children of fallen officers, support for orphanages, embarking on campaign against drug abuse and promotion of basic education.
She added “our training aims to enable COWA members to effectively set up and manage businesses without compromising their duties on the home front”, Noting that they estimated that about 1,200 COWA members would benefit from these training between now and the end of 2024.
Adeniyi who also used the occasion to felicitate with the zonal coordinator Zone C, Nigeria Customs Headquarters, Port Harcourt ACG Olugboyega Peters on the sacrifices his officers and men are making to facilitate trade, fight smuggling, and collect revenue as well as keep Nigeria and Nigerians safe insisted that officers wives should not impose unnecessary stress on their husbands. “I appeal to you not to impose unnecessary stress on your husbands, make the home a place of rest and comfort for them when the return after a hard day’s work” Adeniyi admonished.
She said she was very happy that Area 1,has blazed the trail in organizing a two day sensitization seminar on drug abuse and other relevant issues adding that “our campaign against drug abuse was conceived out of a compelling need to support the government in eliminating the scourge of hard drugs in the Country.” According to her, “drug abuse is a complex disease that affects millions of people worldwide”
In her welcome address, the chairperson, COWA Nigeria Customs Area 1 Command Port Harcourt, Chapter, Barr, Mrs., Maryam Mustapha Hashim has expressed her chapter’s delight in welcoming the National president, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi describing the visit as a turning point in the history of the Association even as she commended what she termed exceptional leadership qualities of the President which accounted for her numerous achievements in a short period of time, on assumption of office.
Hashim said her team was optimistic that the president’s leadership in COWA would attract sustainable growth and development in the lives of their members.
“Since the taking over from my predecessor two weeks ago, we have succeeded in setting up the administrative structure of the chapter, renovation of COWA office accommodation and repairs of COWA bus”, she said.
Continuing, Mrs. Hashim said the chapter has organized a Workshop in collaboration with the chartered Institute of mentoring and coaching with the theme Empowered Mindset and the positive intelligence for women.
Speaking further, Mrs. Hashim insisted that the resource person (Dr, Rotimi Matthew) has succeeded through the Seminar to expose their members to some of the challenges faced by women both in the workplace and at the home front
She said some aspects of the workshop include Self development awareness, Business development, Drug Abuse and addiction management, abuse and technique among others.
She noted that her chapter would venture into more collaborative efforts with other institutions to expose members to other vocational skills and empowerment that will impact positively on the lives of members and ensure sustainable growth and development for all.
In his comment, the Zonal Coordinator Customs Zone C, ACG Olugboyega Peters praised the CGC’s wife for driving the revitalization of COWA in such a short time of her assumption of office. He went further to posit that COWA was formed in 2009 with the aim to promote the welfare of the families of Customs officers, to foster unity, friendship and understanding among members.
He also used the opportunity to thank all the Comptrollers, officers and men of Customs zone C, which he said is made up of the 11 states of the south East and South-South geopolitical zones
High point of the occasion was the conferment of award of excellence to the wife of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi into the fellow of the chartered institute of mentoring and Coaching by the Director General of the institute Dr, Rotimi Matthew.
There was Cultural Dance Display by the Rivers state ministry of Arts and Culture, Drama presentation by the police Officers’ wife and distribution of food items to the widows of customs fallen heroes among others.
