Nigeria’s foremost transportation institute, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, has conferred a Fellowship award on the Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC),
Dr. Kayode Opeifa, during an official courtesy visit to the corporation’s headquarters.
It also sought the deepening of collaboration between the Institute and the agency, which it described as a major player and the backbone of transportation and logistics sector in the country.
Led by its President and Chairman of Council, Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro, said the over 100 year old institute, chartered in the United Kingdom, is an international organisation that maintains same global standard, content and curriculum thereby making its members fit for any job in the transportation systems anywhere in the world.
Usoro, a former Managing Director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said CILT, with presence in over 133 countries, has been at the forefront of shaping logistics and transportation globally.
“The structure of CILT ensures that the same international standards are applied across all member countries. We carry out global audit of our curriculum content in order to ensure that we uphold sound professionalism and quality befitting the sector.”
The CILT president highlighted how the Institute’s certification helped members secure jobs and academic placements abroad. She also stressed the organisation’s ongoing involvement in national advocacy, including its significant contributions to the National Transport Policy formulation, adding that the institute is ready to collaborate with the corporation in training its workforce.
In his response, Opeifa affirmed NRC’s readiness for the conference. While accepting the fellowship, he reaffirmed NRC’s commitment to promoting professional standards of its workforce.
“We recognise the value of CILT and the role it plays in strengthening logistics and transportation. As a major player in the rail sector, we must ensure that professionals with requisite training in the sector begin to manage our mobility systems,” he said.
According to him, the Corporation is proud to have sound local engineers and other professionals who can hold their own against their contemporaries anywhere in the world, adding that just as its civil engineers could readily lay tracks, the mechanical engineers can work on any engines and repurpose any equipment for the benefit of Nigerians.
Under his leadership, the corporation is encouraging all states that has the rail assets in their territories to invest in the rail sector for the use of Nigerians.
Under the initiative which he tagged railing with the States, several states are already indicating interest in partnering with the NRC in rejuvenating the legacy train service.
On cargo services, Dr Opeifa said the corporation has invigorated cargo movements to and from the ports with the reactivation of three new lines to Apapa Ports for cargo movement to Ibadan, while efforts are ongoing to link Ilorin, and beyond.
“Presently as facilitator of trade we have brought new life into cargo movement, in what we have termed freight revolution as it is now common to see simultaneous cargo movements on both sides the narrow and standard gauges,” Dr Opeifa said.
On what the NRC under him has been doing on passenger services, Dr Opeifa said the corporation is determined to improve passenger/customer experience by improving the ambience of all its coaches, especially on the narrow gauge to change the perception of the people and make train service a viable alternative as a mode of transportation.
The NRC boss said the corporation’s conference coach is available for the CILT to hold its board meeting.
“We invite you to make use of our conference coach for your next board meeting. You could charter it and hold your meetings on the train, giving you board members and unforgettable view of the beautiful countryside between Lagos to Abeokuta, or to Ibadan. It would be another unique experience for members of your board,” he said.
The NRC management team in attendance include directors of corporate planning, administration, legal, civil engineering, among others, while CILT was represented by high-ranking members and industry experts.
