Anti-smuggling programme is strategic tool for enlightenment- Says Entrepreneur  …Lauds Customs on anti-smuggling drive  …As Financial Business gives 2 students scholarship support

Anti-smuggling programme is strategic tool for enlightenment- Says Entrepreneur

 .Lauds Customs on anti-smuggling drive

 .As Financial Business gives 2 students scholarship support

 By Udeme Clement

The Chairman, T & C Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ikpong Umoh, has said that Anti-smuggling programme is a strategic tool for enlightening the people on the dangers of smuggling to the nation’s economy.

He made this assertion, while delivering a lecture at the Anti-smuggling sensitisation workshop, organised by Financial Business, in collaboration with Daily Business update, at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

 Mr. Umoh, who is also an Entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of Stellarchem Nigeria limited, commended Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for its efforts in curbing smuggling in the country.

According to him, “We appreciate the good work Customs is doing at the borders, creeks and waterways to curtail smuggling of goods that can be manufactured locally by our industries. This is one of the ways Customs is promoting entrepreneurship development in Nigeria”.

He pointed out, “This anti-smuggling workshop is highly strategic, especially as it is organised by media practitioners. The audience is carefully selected. I want to appeal that it should be a regular programme to enlighten more people on the need to shun smuggling and encourage growth of local industries for sustainable development”.

Speaking on the theme,‘ ‘Entrepreneurship as key to economic growth and development, opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria’, he called on Nigerians, especially the youths to look inward and make good use of investment opportunities abound in the country.

He said, “An entrepreneur searches for opportunities and utilizes them effectively. Nigeria has a lot of opportunities we can explore and create jobs but many of us are not searching for such investment windows. The reality is that, more foreign investors are seeing these opportunities and making good use of them.”

“An entrepreneur sees opportunity and makes good use of it. This is not the case with some of our local investors. Instead, foreign investors are seeing more business opportunities in Nigeria and making good use of them, while many Nigerians are still jobless and running outside the country”.

During the programme, Financial Business, an online news publication in collaboration with Daily Business Update, gave two Nigerian students scholarship support for their education.

The beneficiaries, Miss Queen Isaac, from HisGrace Academy and Master Chidiebere, a Mass Communication student from Yaba College of Technology were given the scholarship support to continue their education.

The workshop featured lecture presentation by ACG Zone ‘A’, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie, represented by DC Nnadi, DC Enforcement, Tincan Island Port Command, another paper presentation by the OC Operations, Western Marine Command (WMC), S. O. Ariyibi (PSC), who took the participants through the measures put in place by WMC to curb smuggling in the creeks.

Others include presentation by the DC Enforcement, Seme Command, a speech by the Customs Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Command, represented by the Public Relations Officer.

Other Resource persons were the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Yabatech and the Guest lecturer, Mr. Umoh.

The workshop with over 290 students of Yabatech in attendance, ended with awards honour to the StellarChem boss and outstanding Customs Commands for their roles in anti-smuggling campaign in Nigeria.