Business

Nigeria’s FITC Bags Int’l Award

Published

13 years ago

April 13, 2012

The Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) in Nigeria, has won her first international award for service quality, as it is scheduled to receive the IAE (International Arch of Europe) award in the Gold Category, based on client recommendations and due diligence.

The presentation of the award is expected to take place during the 38th yearly International Arch of Europe Quality Convention, scheduled to hold on April 29 and 30, 2012 at the InterContinental Frankfurt Convention Hall of Frankfurt in Germany.

This recognition is based on the criteria of the QC100 Total Quality Management Model, implemented in over 100 countries, and is being sponsored by ImarPress with 26 publications. Companies from 72 countries are expected to gather to receive the International Arch of Europe Award this year.

During the award ceremony, business leaders will present their companies to an international audience and will participate in conferences regarding quality case studies in companies in search of quality and excellence.

According to Business Initiative Directions (BID), the organisers of the award, companies selected for the award are leaders in their areas, their countries or large corporations, which demonstrate excellence within each designated sector, increased market share, improved results, as well as sustainability.

The IAE award of BID is presented in recognition of those companies or organisations in different countries throughout the world that further their reputation and position by implementing and promoting quality culture. The award recognises and encourages the contribution of companies to quality, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, as well as, improving relations with employees, suppliers and all those associated with the company.

FITC was established in 1981 as a special purpose organisation to provide professional services support in training, consulting and research to the Financial Services Sector and related sectors of the Nigerian economy. It is owned by the Nigerian Bankers’ Committee.

FITC’s mandate has over the years, positioned it as a reference professional services organisation in matters relating to the acquisition, management and development of the human capital to the operators and regulators in the Nigerian Financial System, primarily.

It operates from Abuja and Lagos through three strategic service lines namely FITC Training, FITC Consulting and FITC Research.

In terms of geographical coverage of its services, FITC has within the 30 years of its existence, increasingly become a regional player, offering its core services to both regulators and operators within the West African sub region and growing into the larger Sub-Saharan Region within the next few years.

It has over the years, also nurtured viable alliances and partnerships delivering best in class services to its stakeholders, in line with global standards, yet contextualised to the local environment.

Given that FITC’s mission reads: “To provide best in class service quality and value to our stakeholders,” this award confirms that FITC’s quality service is recognised by its various domestic and international clients.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu