This call to action was highlighted at the Courier & Logistics Management Institute (CLMI’s) 2024 International Conference & Investiture event in Lagos, where industry experts and professionals gathered to address challenges and propose solutions for growth in this vital sector.

According to Dist. Prof. Simon Emeje, the executive chairman, Courier & Logistics Management Institute (CLMI), “The combined worth of Nigeria’s courier, logistics, transport, and management industry is staggering. Valued at no less than N15 trillion, this sector is crucial to Nigeria’s economic future.” He cited research showing the market potential could be as high as N25 trillion.

Prof. Emeje explained,

“In many countries, this sector contributes approximately 7-8% to GDP. However, in Nigeria, its contribution currently stands at around 4%, revealing a substantial gap that, if addressed, could unleash transformative growth.”

He called on the Nigerian government to harness the resources within the sector, stressing that investment could unlock revenue streams contributing up to 60% of the annual national budget.

To underscore these points, industry experts at the event presented strategies such as logistical innovations and advanced transport management approaches, advocating that the sector should become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic agenda.

Following the CLMI’s offer to collaborate with the government at different levels to harness this potential through public-private partnerships, regulatory reforms, and targeted investment, Reverend Father (Dr.) Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the executive governor of Benue State, said the State has queued into the courier and transportation sector to better the worth of citizens.

The Governor, represented by Chief Aber Terseer Benjamin, the chief executive of FarmBasket Global Resources Limited, said “Benue Links Company holds greater economic opportunities for our dear State and our administration needed to act fast to rescue and reposition the Company that almost went comatose to its current status.

“We purchased one hundred buses with support from the Federal Government and handed them over to Benue Links Limited to provide affordable means of transportation for our people.

“The procurement of these Buses was to cushion effects of the transportation challenge that was occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. Not quite long, our administration repaired some of the Marco Polo Buses of Benue Links that la​ed dormant for many years for an intercity movement.

“Passengers are being transported from one point of Makurdi town, worth almost four kilometres, to another destination just for two hundred naira only. Our people are very happy with this modest effort too.

“Benue Links Limited has also commenced the lifting of goods from Lagos to other parts of the country using high profile Trucks that have been positioned in Lagos specifically for this task. The rates offered by Benue Links in providing this service are more-friendly as compared to other Companies offering similar service”.

He extended partnership handshake to CLMI to liaise with the management of Benue Links Company on how best they could synergise to enhance the transportation system in the country.

Dist. Professor Anya O Anya, the chairman of the conference, said that Nigeria had a lot to benefit if the industry’s potential were properly harnessed for development.

“We have a path to follow and that is how we can be successful as a nation. It is not about where we are coming from, but where we are heading.

“Nigeria is blessed with brains that can help her grow, but the question is are we making use of the opportunities?

In his keynote address, Dr. Sam Ohuabunwa, chairman of the Africa Economic Summit, emphasized logistics as an essential tool for Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Speaking on the theme, “Unlocking Economic Potentials and Fostering Nation-building through Logistics Instruments,” he explained, “Logistics is the process of planning and executing efficient transportation and storage of goods. It’s fundamental to economic growth, acting as a bridge to meet consumer needs in a cost-effective and timely manner.”

Dr. Ohuabunwa also called for strategic investment in infrastructure, energy, and broadband technology. “Robust infrastructure can reduce production costs, increase global competitiveness, and stimulate industrial growth,” he said.

He stressed the need for better access to credit at single-digit interest rates to enable growth in agriculture and small businesses.

The keynote speaker noted that despite Nigeria’s abundant resources, the country’s economy is hampered by insufficient infrastructure, underdeveloped industrial capacity, and over-reliance on imports.

He encouraged a return to productivity-driven economic planning, proposing government investment in essential infrastructure to stabilize the economy, improve foreign reserves, and strengthen the Naira.

Dr Adebayo Shittu,  a former Minister of Communication, called on the government to extend its dragnet to those that are not in the “political party” to draw ideas from them.

“Ideas have their gestation period at which they grow. I am happy that we have a national assembly that listens.

“We want people with exceptional ideas to bring national reforms to boost the growth of the logistics industry,” Shittu said.

“We are still at the lowest stage of logistics compare to advanced countries.

“Considering the way we run logistics, we have yet to meet the expectations. Logistics is still at its infancy and we have yet to tap into the potentials within the confines of trade.

“Looking at the total value chain we realised that logistics takes a critical role especially if we have to develop the economy, “Musa said.

Musa noted that it was necessary to identify the potential in the industry and explore them.

“How do we explore the potential? There must be policy drive for the logistics sector to align with the best international practice around the world,” he said.

Musa also emphasised the importance of adequate infrastructure for the logistics sector.

“We need to collaborate and bring resources from areas that are concentrated, to where they are needed.

“We need to look at it holistically. The world has advanced from using bicycles to deliver packages. Others are looking at possibilities such as using drones to speed up delivery, ” he said.

Musa noted that it was necessary to modernise logistics by bringing experts together to discuss technical issues hindering the development of the industry in Nigeria.

Despite the inability of the Tola Odeyemi, the Postmaster General of the Federation (PMG)/CEO of NIPOST to grace the occasion, all speakers highlighted the importance of strategic investments in courier and logistics and infrastructure development to unlock Nigeria’s full economic potential.

Their recommendations included increasing public-private collaborations, placing industry experts in key positions, and adopting policies that support sector growth.

Distinguished Professor Simon Emeje, the executive chairman, Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI), has said the courier and logistics sub-sector can boost Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 60 per cent, if fully tapped.

The CLIMI boss said tapping into the industry with assets worth over ₦15 trillion requires regulatory excellence and innovation.

He made the remarks during a press conference to announce His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the distinguished special guest of honour to CLMI International Conference and Investiture to be held on November 14, 2024 in Lagos State under the theme: “Unlocking Economic Potentials and Fostering Nation-Building through Logistics Instruments”.

Emeje, the first professor of courier, logistics, transport, and management, expressed dissatisfaction that the full potential of the sector was yet to be tapped, primarily due to governments’ inability to entrench regulations that will drive innovation, investments and growth.

In his words,

“This industry that has such huge assets should have the federal government’s recognition. The country is looking for measures to increase revenue and stabilize the economy. Maybe it has not occurred to policymakers, both at the federal and State levels, that logistics and courier services contribute to economic growth by facilitating the movement of goods and services, which improves supply chain efficiency, reduces costs, and increases competitiveness.

“The logistics sector in every economy employs millions of people more than oil and gas sector, including truck drivers, warehouse workers, supply chain managers, and freight forwarders, amongst others.

“This is why CLMI exists. We are here to assist the system, particularly in helping the government on policies and regulations, while training professionals to remain profitable and ethical. Other countries are already consulting us, but charity they say starts at home. We make bold to say that when logistics infrastructure, such as ports, airports, and customs procedures, are well developed, they enable global trade and economic integration. That way, the logistics industry contributes to national income and foreign investment influx. Courier services play an important role in driving efficiency and meeting customer demands”.

“Out of the N15 trillion worth of assets, just 20 per cent of the combined market of Courier, Logistics, Transport and Management is currently being utilised across Nigeria”.

On skills development in the sector, he said:

“The professionals in these combined areas of courier business are very few in number. We have less than 10 percent of experts that can actually embark on capacity building and proper training that will set the economy in a good shape.”

“There is no sector of the Nigerian economy or the global economy that is not tied to these four areas. The government is looking for money to develop infrastructure, but the money is in our hands. Just we don’t know how to tap them.

Prof. Emeje said that CLMI International Conference and Investiture is being convened as a platform for the regulators and players to discuss issues affecting the industry, adding that as a significant component of the economy, “logistics affects the rate of inflation, interest, productivity, energy costs and availability, and other aspects of the economy.

“Prominent speakers have lined up to address these issues at the CLMI Conference and Investiture, Prof. Emeje said. “We are expecting His Excellency, Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima as the distinguished Special Guest of Honour; His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, as the Special Guest. The event will be chaired by Prof. Anya O. Anya, former CEO, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, while the current Chairman, African Economic Summit 2024, Dr. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, is the keynote speaker”.

He listed other special invitees as; Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; former Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu; Postmaster General of the Federation, Engineer Tola Odeyemi; President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Mr. Ray Atelly; Founder, Red Star Express PLC, Dr. Allison Sonny; Managing Director, Zenith Carex, Dr. Adelana Olamilekan.

The panelists include; the Provost, ICPC Academy, Prof. Tunde Babawale; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh; Director General, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Shola Obadimu, and Chairman, Maritime and Logistics, NBCC, Dr. Ikenna Nwosu.

About Courier and Logistics Management Institute [CLMI]

The Courier and Logistics Management Institute is the first academic and professional institute with the combination of Courier, Logistics Transportation and Management as one package.

CLMI trains highly qualified couriers, logistics, transport entrepreneurs, and management practitioners that are responsive to customer and socio-economic developmental needs. They achieve this through the capacity building (training) programs as part of the core services, the others being consultancy and professional Membership for industry professionals.

The Institute also offers higher degrees and short programs through its affiliations with Ballsbridge University, UniLag Consult Ltd, and Lagos State University.

The Institute facilitates the issuance of higher degrees such as; PhD, MBA, and MSc programs physically and virtually from any part of the world.

Dr Sunday Ade Bello, CEO of Work Life Training Professionals, had the honour of comprehensively reviewing the book during the event.

“Around April, we met and was made to chair the planning committee of the CLMI 2023 international conference and investiture. We finally came up with Logistics Solutions and National Infrastructural Development. Among the members in the meeting, someone asked: Prof, will you write a book? He said yes, I will write a book… Prof. left for the UK, stayed one month, and the next thing, Prof. produced a book.”

When the economy of a country develops, it is propelled by the development of logistics. On the other hand, as logistics develops, it is the foundation for developing other industries and infrastructure in the economy. 

“According to the author, Professor Emeje, logistics is a critical phenomenon in human existence that has been kept at the back end for too long a time despite its enormous advantages to the growth of the economy especially in terms of job and wealth creation.”

Review of Chapter One

The book opens with a reflection on the relevance of logistics to national infrastructure development. Dr Sunday Ade Bello highlights the book’s unique nature, considering its substantial content of 250 pages.

He commends Professor Emeje’s intelligence and dedication to delivering a comprehensive exploration of logistics solutions to the country’s challenges. 

“Ladies and gentlemen. I want to sincerely appreciate prof for coming up with this book on logistic solutions.”

The book digs into the significance of logistics in various aspects, as no profession can escape logistics, from the medical profession to law, banking, politics, engineering, religion, academics and so on. The integration of logistics into economic and enterprise development is emphasized, noting its essence in linking the flow of goods and services in an economy.

“…logistic is essential to our businesses and to the economy.”

Origin of Logistics (Chapter Two):

Professor Emeje traces the origin of logistics to the creation and highlights its relevance, drawing parallels with biblical events. The review pointed to the historical context and significance of logistics in human existence.

“The author went down this memory lane to enlighten the prospective reader that logistics is as old as the creation, logistics is life, and life is a total phenomenon of human existence.”

Dimensions of Logistics (Chapter Three)

The third chapter explores the intellectual, physical, and electronic dimensions of logistics. The review applauds the book’s focus on decision-making models and the insight provided on how individuals approach decision-making.

“…decision-making aberration model was the most interesting among the models mentioned in the book. In Prof’s extensive research on decision making, he came to the conclusion that 80% of the population take decisions and action before thinking, 20% take decisions objectively without being selfish.”

Creative Autolytic Destruction Philosophy

The review highlighted the unique perspective introduced in the book regarding creative autolytic destruction philosophy. It emphasizes how this philosophy serves as a solution to development crises and encourages a self-destructive process for new creation and better leadership. “…trust is one of the major factors that make the main creative autolytic distortion to succeed.”

Speaking about chapter four of the book, the review highlights the practical recommendations presented, such as suggestions for improving refineries and addressing logistic challenges. The book’s relevance to national revenue generation and solutions for restiveness is also commended.

Chapter five focuses on high national revenue generation and national restiveness solutions. As you are aware, the greatest challenge in most nations and organizations all over the world is low revenue or low financial capacity to develop and sustain infrastructure, improve the lives of the citizens, create jobs, boost agriculture, and transform the creative energies of the populace to development platforms.

Also, low or non-existence of the participation of the citizens in governance has made in most cases the policies and programs of the government appear alien to many citizens, thereby resulting in policy somersault, restiveness, and in some cases, violence among citizens. 

This is why the author dedicated this chapter to proffer solutions to nations regarding revenue generation or remedy for restiveness through a design citizenry framework in governments. This framework, if approved by the President of any country, has the capacity to generate a minimum of 50% of whatever is the annual national budget of any country, according to the author. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, this book is very rich. You can’t afford to live here without getting your copy. The price is affordable; it is very detailed, easy to read and comprehend”.

The book is currently selling at 15,000 naira (Approximately US$30) per copy.

The Minister will chair the occasion scheduled for Thursday, November 23, 2023 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos, while Distinguished Senator Aliyu Ikra Bilbis, Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, will deliver the keynote address.

CLMI is the first and the only academic and a professional Institute in the world with a combination of courier, logistics, transport and management as one capacity building package.

Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, Professor Simon Emeje, the executive chairman, Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI) said that the annual International Conference and Investiture of Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI), is normally an epoch-making event that stimulates discussions and make contributions to the national and enterprise agenda for the realization of national and corporate success, including creation of job opportunities.

“In the event, there is a recognition and conferment of Awards to Distinguished Personalities who have immensely contributed to the civil society and their respective professions.  It is a gathering of sharp minds and focused personalities and professionals worldwide from Nigeria, some European and African countries. It attracts renowned international speakers on topical emergent industry, national and international issues. It is a forum for good networking and face-lifting of businesses and individuals”, Prof. Emeje said.

He said that the field of Courier, Logistics and Transport Management is relatively untapped globally.

“In the contemporary times, the business of courier, logistics and transport has become critical in national development. This prominence and the need to train and promote professionalism and certification in courier, logistics, transport and management services have made it imperative to establish this Institute (CLMI)”, the Executive Chairman said.

He added that in the context of integration, the effects of logistics on the economy and enterprises are becoming ever more important.

When the economy of a country develops, it is propelled by the development of logistics. On the other hand, as logistics develops, it is the foundation for the development of other industries and infrastructure in the economy.

“Today, logistics is even more important when it is considered a base for sectors of the economy because it helps to link the flow of goods and services from the first partners to the final customers. Besides, the industry of Logistics, Courier, Transport and Management commands an average asset worth of over three (3) trillion Naira. It has great potentials to create millions of job opportunities.

“This explains why logistics is essential to all businesses and to the economy, and it is for this reason that this year’s CLMI International Conference and Investiture is focusing on “Logistics Solutions and National Infrastructure Development”, he added.

Prof. Emeje further said that the event will feature Panel Discussions emanating from the Keynote Paper and the public presentation of the book titled: ‘Logistics Solutions for Enterprise and Infrastructure’.

For more details about the conference and investiture, please email: courierlogisticsmgt@gmail.com

Afrihealth, a premier technology solutions provider in Nigeria, has launched Rigour+, a groundbreaking medical super app set to transform the African healthcare landscape by addressing critical challenges and providing convenience and quality healthcare services at users’ fingertips.

Rigour+ is poised to revolutionize healthcare access for millions of Africans, starting with Nigeria. It tackles major issues such as limited access to quality healthcare, rampant counterfeit drugs, and difficulty in obtaining medical services.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), counterfeit drugs are responsible for approximately 500,000 deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa annually.

In Nigeria alone, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) estimates that 10-15% of drugs in circulation are fake or substandard, leading to thousands of preventable fatalities.

Inadequate ambulance services contribute to the unnecessary loss of lives during medical emergencies.

Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, asserts that an efficient emergency medical treatment service could reduce mortality rates by nearly 50%, especially at night.

Afrihealth’s Rigour+ medical super app is designed to combat these challenges, improving access to quality healthcare services for Nigerians and eventually the entire African continent.

Key features of the Rigour+ app include:

● Telemedicine: Securely book video consultations with doctors, control video settings during calls, and consent to video recording when necessary.

● Medicine prescription: Obtain prescriptions based on doctor consultations and store medical records electronically for easy access.

● Medication purchase and authentication: Order medications directly through the app, complete payments securely, and receive deliveries at your preferred address. Use the app’s cutting-edge scanning feature to verify product integrity, detect counterfeit drugs, and ensure the wholesomeness of the products for consumption. Returns and refunds are available when necessary.

● Ambulance services: Request an ambulance during emergencies with just a few taps.

These features are accessible through a user-friendly interface prioritizing convenience and accessibility.

Afrihealth’s dedication to patient safety is showcased through Rigour+’s emphasis on combating counterfeit drugs. The app’s innovative scanning technology empowers users to make informed choices, ensuring they purchase only genuine products.

This feature can significantly reduce the risk of adverse health effects and save lives by detecting fake or substandard medications.

Linda Obi, Afrihealth’s CEO, states, “We’re thrilled to launch Rigour+ after countless hours of development and refinement. We believe this app has the potential to radically transform healthcare access for Nigerians, making it more accessible, convenient, and reliable than ever before.”

Rigour+ is now available for free download on the App Store and Google Play Store. Afrihealth envisions Rigour+ as the catalyst for transforming healthcare access across Nigeria and the broader African continent.