TEAMWORK WILL BE DEPLOYED TO REPOSITION NAGAFF TINCAN CHAPTER TO ITS PRIDE OF PLACE
— FWDR. PHILIP EMEKA NWANKWO
By Mcanthony Onuoha
The Chairmanship Candidate of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwaders NAGAFF, TinCan Chapter,
Fwdr Philip Emeka Nwankwo, has pledged to effectively collaborate with other freight forwaders to make meaningful impact if elected Chairman in the forthcoming election.
FWRD. PHILIP EMEKA NWANKWO, CHAIRMANSHIP CANDIDATE, NAGAFF, TINCAN CHAPTER.
Fwdr Nwankwo aka Pilot 1, is the outgoing Customs – Freight Forwarders Relations Officer of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Tincan Chapter, and current Deputy Youth Leader, New Nigerian Peoples’ Party -NNPP, Lagos State.
He is contesting for NAGAFF Tin Can Chapter Chairmanship seat against Fwdr. Dr Emeka Paul Chiedozie who is running for a second term in office.
On NAGAFF Tincan Chapter leadership, Fwdr. Phillip Emeka Nwankwo said that his decision to contest for Chairman was not just his alone but also that of NAGAFF members who are not carried along by the present administration, adding that he heeded to the clarion call because in the last three years, he had patiently observed the administrative lapses and sheer leadership failure at TinCan Chapter, which informed his decision to step in and remedy the situation.
“My coming out to contest is to champion peoples ‘ cause. It is the decision of our members who are totally disenchanted with the immediate past administration of Fwdr. Emeka Paul Chidozie who never convened a general meeting even for once. And l don’t think that NAGAFF election is in the hand of the highest bidder, never. Members need to see your achievements before entrusting you with another mandate. Freight Forwaders are not hungry people, it might be tough for them today, and juicy tomorrow, and they are very resilient, so you can not buy them over with money. People need to be treated with dignity, and if you think you can bring arrogance to leadership and still expect support from those you disrespect, you better have a rethink.”
COMRD. STANLEY CHIDOZIE EJIOGU, VICE CHAIRMANSHIP CANDIDATE, NAGAFF TINCAN CHAPTER
” As one of the Executive of the past administration, l observed some leadership lapses, and decided to step in and do it differently, the way people will feel the impact of leadership. It is not something you say that you are the Chairman and nobody has the right to talk to you, you take decision without carrying members along, no, that is not right. As a leader, you should allow people to be involved and have their own say, you are not leading yourself, you are leading a people who also deserve to be respected irrespective of status.”
“I believe that l will do things differently. He told us publicly that he was not a meeting person, but a leader sees it as a point of duty to always call for meetings. If you are leading a people and you don’t rub mind with them, you don’t give them the platform to express themselves and you claim to be a leader, that is never leadership. I want to step in and correct those errors, l will always call for meetings. You should know that those you call your members have their individual opinions, they have their reservations, and without you calling them for meetings, how would you know what they have in mind, some wouldn’t like to give you privileged information about what is happening in the Chapter until you convene a meeting. That someone is not properly dressed does not make him a nonentity. That man that does not dress well can give you what a man that is properly dressed can not give you, so you don’t need to underrate anyone, we must treat all men with dignity.”
“As l said, the greatest undoing of the past administration was not calling for a meeting even for one day.
It is from public opinion that a leader knows whether he is heading in the right direction or not. Those people you underrate are the ones that would always give you information, make suggestions, criticize you when you are not getting it right or applaud you when you are heading in the right direction.”
” You remember four years ago, l gave him all the support and he was returned unopposed, the first meeting we called after his emergence, he told us that he was not a meeting person, and l got annoyed. I did not relent, l still went on to push, insisting that the right thing should be done. But all the advice l gave him fell on deaf ears. The people got annoyed, accusing me of talking them into voting him in. And this time around, they urged me to come out, pledging to support my candidacy, if not that clarion call, l wouldn’t have come out to run for Chairmanship position. As NAGAFF Pilot 1, l have access to many offices, and l can do my job anywhere. So l am out to work with my people.”
“We have set the ball rolling, if the immediate past Chairman is convinced that he did well, let him stand for another contest and let the people decide. If he has done well as a leader, l think he should not waste his time campaigning, people are not fools, they know when a leader is doing well, and majority will always want to support you if you distinguish yourself as a leader.”
” I can not step down for anyone because the people that asked me to come out will feel disappointed.
The welfare of NAGAFF members will be prioritized, as a Chairman, l will show them the way, and they will be happy working with me. Remember l was the Taskforce Chairman of NAGAFF, Tin Can Chapter, and l know the connections l made throughout that period. I will never relent because Tincan Chapter believes in me, and that is why they want me to contest for Chairman.”
“I need our people to be resilient and focused. He had been bragging about money, If you are offered money in this election collect it but vote your conscience. Members are not hungry and can not sell their consciences for money. They should be looking out for someone who can bring good results, a team player, that is the kind of leader Tincan Chapter of NAGAFF needs at this critical time.”
“If you have access to the sea, you have access to the wealth of the world. If you don’t have money today, you could have it tomorrow. Teamwork is very important. I want to advise the NAGAFF Headquarters not to compromise, let the election be free and fair.”
“I would like to give the women equal opportunities, they are always committed and resilient. So my administration will accommodate them, and give them all the support they need.”
“The Founder and his team have worked so hard to bring NAGAFF where it is today, and we must all support them in whichever way we can.”
Corroborating the stance of Fwdr. Emeka Philip Nwankwo, the Former Public Relations Officer, Former Taskforce Chairman and Former Vice Chairman of NAGAFF, Tincan Chapter, Comrade Stanley Chiedozie Ejiogu, said the choice of Fwdr. Nwankwo was a perfect one.
According to him, ” Fwdr. Phillip Emeka Nwankwo is a perfect Choice, and l so much believe that he will deliver if elected chairman. He has garnered experiences for himself as a Freight Forwarder and he understands the terrain so well. My coming out is to support him in his quest to reposition NAGAFF Tincan Chapter, he is committed to redefine leadership, there are administrative lapses that need to be revisited and corrected. Leadership is all about people. No organization can function without it’s members. When l was the Public Relations Officer, l encouraged teamwork. Even as Taskforce Chairman, l carried my team along. One of the things l did during my time as PRO was to organize a forum where Customs was invited to train our members on Classification. Capacity building is key, and that is why NAGAFF runs an Academy. People should know the nitty- gritty of the profession. And capacity building and welfare of our members will be topmost in our priorities once we come onboard as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively.”
” I did well when l was the PRO of NAGAFF TinCan Chapter, even when l was the Taskforce Chairman, l didn’t disappoint. Fwdr. Nwankwo pointed out that NAGAFF never took its place of pride during the last administration, and l boldly stand to corroborate that fact. For example, recently, we went to see a Customs Officer for one of our jobs that was on her table, and she shocked us by telling us that NAGAFF was not in the list of the associations to be given priority attention and mentioned only two associations that were in her list. We tried so hard to explain to her but she stood her ground. We had to ask ourselves a question. It means that throughout the four years of the last administration there was no established relationship, no effective collaboration between the leadership of NAGAFF Tincan Chapter and Tincan Customs Command.”
“I strongly believe that the leadership of Fwdr. Phillip Emeka Nwankwo will bring a positive change at NAGAFF Tincan Chapter”.
