Fanfare, jubilation and ovation were high as ANLCA Eastern Zone welcomes its national president Emenike Nwokeoji to the zone after his triumph at the just concluded election of the association
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
The Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Eastern Zone welcomed Chief Emenike Nwokeoji the new President of the Association and members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM) to Port Harcourt, Rivers State in a grand style, it was a celebration galore with who is who in the freight forwarding industry in attendance.
Port Harcourt, Rivers State the operational base of the new President also houses the zonal office of the Association.
In his remarks, former National President and present BOT Member of ANLCA, Chief Ernest Elochukwu, said, “Election is over and all ANLCA members from all walks of life should be on board to build a formidable, respected, and purposeful association that will accord its relevance and role in the nation’s building”.
He further said, it is time for members to work to protect the interests of ANLCA members especially the welfare and operational challenges, to beef up operational skills and capacities for a more united and productive ANLCA, with the interests of all members at the forefront.
“Eastern Zone is the bed rock of ANLCA, before ANLCA, we use to have two associations, one in Area 1 and another in Onne/ABA before we decided to form ANLCA we all saw what happened in 2018 where some persons were enthroned not that they merited it but out of favour and a government cannot run that way, the right thing must be done to bring back ANLCA pass glory”,
“We were called names and many names giving to me in the course of fighting for the right thing to be done which we insisted, if I Elochukwu stands for the right thing then you call me all the names you like for the right thing to be done, today we have a new president and the era of MERCHANT ANLCA is gone”.
Responding, the Amazon of freighting industry honorable Princess Diby Adiele who also addressed the members said” we are back to the good old days of ANLCA as the association will move forward again, I encourage the only woman among them to fight on and follow them in all they do, I was once the only lady among them”, she said.
When asked how she feels seeing her son as she foundly calls the new President and why she calls him my son, rthoticaly
she ask” how does a mother feels when she sees her son succeeding (cut in) great, and that is how I feel Great. I came into ANLCA long before most of them and they call me the Amazon of the clearing and forwarding and the mother of all the agents as a matter of fact I am the first female agent of the clearing and forwarding in the country”.
The former chapter chairman of Oil and Gas in Onne, Okere Celestina Chinyere PhD, now the Zonal Secretary of ANLCA has this to say
” emerging victorious at the just concluded election, I feel great not because am the only woman but to encourage other women to join so that there would be a balance, Chief Emenike Nwokeoji taught me all I know in this business and I thank God he came out successful and I thank all who made it possible and all the contestants, members of ANLCA that the victory is for all of us and as the slogan says restoration, we are going to do all we can in collaboration to restore the dignity of ANLCA, a seemless operation, our finances and all that ANLCA has missed”, she said.
In his closing remark, Chief Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji started with a chorus ” It’s not by Power, it’s not by might but by the Spirit says the Lord , this mountain must be remove this mountain must be remove ……….. “,
“To God be all the glory for the victory, and there’s no Victor and no Vanquish. We are back from a tough battle to serve our people and restore the glory and status of ANLCA. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my mentor, Sir Ernest Elochukwu, I know most you must have be hearing this for the first time and to all those who stood by me”,
“I will not fail to thank and appreciate the Onne chapter chairman, Mike Ebeatu and his team, Onwa my brother Ifeanyi Isikaku and all that supported us in one way or the other, our coming back with this glory which belongs to God”.
Nwokeoji who promised assistance for those trying to get their operating licenses said people can form corporatives to enable themselves raise the finance to do that, noting that even when such is done and jobs captured, every individual would know the job that belongs to him.
“Don’t operate without any license, get your licenses, the era of operating without license as a clearing Agent is over and a thing of the past from now on going licenses must count and we are going to set up a committee that will help you in processing that to cut cost. You need to be licensed so that you will not be seen as touts in the Port while executing your jobs”, he admonish.
Continuing, he encourage members not to chicken out but work together for the upliftment of (ANLCA).
“If you are determined the sky is your limit, with your support and God on our side, we shall make a positive impact as no leader can perform beyond the support he receives from the people he leads”, he concludes.
