From left: Newly crowned ANLCA Brand Ambassador, Miss Obodozie Adaeze Gloria presents plaque to the National President of the Association, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike at the grand reception organised in her honour in Lagos, Monday.

The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA yesterday organised a grand reception in honour of its Face of Maritime International FOMI brand ambassador, saying that it would have emerged the overall winner but for its late entry into the competition.

The association’s flag bearer, Miss Obodozie Adaeze Glory had emerged third out of the eight contestants that made it to the final stage of the 2019 edition of the FOMI competition.

National President of the association, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike, who led other members of the National Executive Committee NECOM at the reception in Lagos, said that the decision to hold the event on Monday, which is the first working day of the week, underscores the importance it attached to the competition and the emergence of its brand ambassador.

He also assured that the association will do everything in its powers to transform the life of the 20-year old Obodozie for flying the association’s flag and bringing honour to it.

“In ANLCA, we have over 45 chief executive officers of companies and license holders.  We also have 18 chapters. We will introduce you to all these CEOs and also ensure that these 18 chapters in Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja etc. organise receptions for you and when we are through with all these, you will become the envy of other winners.

“Professionalism and continuous training of our members is one of our cardinal policies and so we will train you in some relevant aspects of the maritime industry so that you will truly be the association’s brand ambassador”, the National President also pledged.

In her welcome address earlier, National Financial Secretary of the association and coordinator of the contest, Hajia Bola Muse, thanked the National President and all the executive members for their support and encouragement, which led to the success the association recorded in the event despite its late entry.

She pledged that the women in ANLCA will continue to preach and promote gender equality and participation of more women in the maritime industry, which is also part of the reasons for supporting the FOMI Beauty Pageant.

National Secretary of the association, Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila, who also spoke at the event, commended the ambassador for her courage and resilience, saying that he was abroad when the lady called to inform him that she was representing ANLCA in the competition, adding that despite efforts to rebuff her, she persisted.

He however told the ambassador that the association is known for its high sense of discipline and good behavior, charging her that she must truly imbibe this culture of good behaviour and decorum everywhere she finds herself, assuring that the association will give her all the necessary support she needed to enjoy her reign.

A high point of the event was the presentation of a plaque by the CEO of Platform Communications, Mr. Silvanus Obasi to the national president of the association as a mark of appreciation.

The new brand ambassador was in turn decorated by Hajia Muse as an honourary member of the association symbolising that she has been fully integrated into the large ANLCA family.