NPA MD, Hadiza Bala-Usman

The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman has commended the youths of the organisation over the formation of the youths chapter of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport CILT, christened: NPA/CILT Next Generation Chapter.

The NPA-boss, who spoke in Lagos, Saturday, at the virtual official inauguration of the chapter; promised that she would continue to make the youths proud by continually committing herself to the mission of leaving the NPA and the port industry as a whole better than she met them with a view to attaining the status of a hub port in the West and Central African sub-region.

While thanking the youths for the award of honour given to her, she pledged the support of the management at all times, especially towards developing the much needed capacity to grow the nation’s maritime industry geared towards developing youths’ capacity for efficiency.

According to her, it was a thing of particular delight that youths of the organisation could come together to explore the opportunities that the CILT presents for the development of not only their individual careers but also the progress of the nation’s maritime sector as a whole.

She observed that such efforts of the youths will give people like her the confidence that the future will be better, adding that with young people who are diligent at work and committed to continuous search for knowledge and professional development, the sky can only be the limit for the industry.

This, according to her is given the antecedents and personal experiences where youths have been found to be unable to accept responsibilities and take advantage of opportunities at their disposal for their future growth and advancement.

She said: “In my experience, I have come to realise that one of the greatest pitfalls of the youths is the inability to quickly come to terms with the responsibility that the future places on them. When youths do not understand the roles that they have in the future of a society, they are unable to explore the opportunities that the present offers them and build the necessary capacity for the future.

“This is why on a lot of occasions, when opportunity falls on the laps of young people, they are not sufficiently prepared to make the best of those opportunities to the benefit of society. This is why I am happy about NPA/CILT Next Generation Chapter.

“It is heartwarming that you have not just come together in unity as one would expect of every staffer of any organisation that aspires for progress, but you also made it a point of duty to develop yourselves and build the capacity of your members through your regular Zoominar series.

“I encourage you not to relent in these efforts. Regardless of the challenges that you face, be rest assured that you will reap the reward of every investment that you put into the initiatives in the future to the benefits of yourself, the maritime industry and Nigeria, at large.”

Meanwhile, the national president of the CILT, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, who also spoke at the event, enjoined the youth chapter to put in their best, collaborate with sister organisations and most importantly, align themselves with the vision of NPA, which is built around excellent service delivery.

A highpoint of the event was the presentation of merit awards to deserving individuals led by the MD, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman and immediate past General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications (C&SC), Engr. Jatto A. Adams (rtd.).

Others award recipients are Pharm. Christy E. Akpa (Mrs.) GM, Medical Services, Mr. Innocent Gamboro Umar GM, BS/LA, Mrs. Josephine Moltok, AGM London Office, Mrs. Bolanle Olufunmilayo Olotu, Port Manager, Lagos Ports Complex LPC, Principal Manager SERVICOM, Calabar Port, Mrs. Funmilayo Loremikan FCILT and Principal Manager C&SC, Calabar PortsComplex, Dr. Chijioke K. Ukadike.