Retreat: ANLCA president urges chapter executives to embrace digital age, address knowledge gaps

President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Emenike Nwokeoji, has called on chapter executives to adapt to the fast-evolving digital landscape, equipping themselves with the knowledge and tools essential for the future of trade and logistics.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day ANLCA retreat and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos on Thursday, Nwokeoji said the retreat’s theme, “Reinventing Customs Brokers in the Digital Age by Harnessing Technology for Efficiency and Growth,” is not just timely but necessary.

“The world is moving fast, and we must not be left behind. This retreat is our opportunity to pause, reflect, and prepare ourselves for the challenges and opportunities ahead. We must think beyond today and equip ourselves with the knowledge and tools that will position us for tomorrow’s trade and logstics,” he said.

Nwokeoji noted that due to the fact that many of the current chapter executives are new to their roles, the retreat will serve a vital opportunity for learning the rules and constitution governing ANLCA and promoting the association’s values.

Nwokeoji also admonished chapter chairmen to refrain from making commentaries on national policies, explaining that such statements often portray the association in a bad light.

He advised them to focus on issues affecting their respective chapters and to avoid overstepping their authority by empowering committees in a way that diminishes the role of executives.

On his part, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of ANLCA, Taiwo Mustapha acknowledged a critical knowledge gap within the customs brokerage profession as a key factor hindering professional success.

“There are certain things we get wrong when we have certain jobs and when we don’t make money out of it, we feel something’s wrong. We need to tell ourselves that what is wrong, is knowledge based obviously in our profession today, because most of us lack it,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the BoT’s perceived inactivity since their election last year, Mustapha refuted the notion, explaining that the BoT in collaboration with the National Executive Committee ( NECOM) has commenced the draft for the establishment of the Institute of Customs Brokers in Nigeria, with plans to present it to the National Assembly soon.

Mustapha also announced that the BoT, is actively pursuing a percentage commission on customs revenue collected for the government, even if it is a small fraction like 0.1%.

As part of the BoT campaign promises, Mustapha announced that a sick bay project will be commissioned at the ANLCA national Secretariat by September to mark the BoT’s one year in office.

Former ANLCA President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who delivered a lecture at the retreat, outlined the distinct roles and responsibilities of national executives, the BoT, and chapter executives.

He urged the leadership structures to understand their boundaries and work in harmony to ensure the association’s sustainable growth.

On his part, Mr. Alwin Hoegerle, Managing Director of Meta Digital Services (MDS), a partner in the National Single Window (NSW) delivery team, commended ANLCA for its support of the government’s transformative initiative.

He explained that the NSW project is designed to streamline trade processes and boost efficiency.

Hoegerle noted that MDS has been tasked with training licensed customs agents on how to effectively use the new platform, highlighting the critical role of ANLCA and other stakeholders in the collaboration.

The event was attended by big wigs in the customs brokerage profession including Alhaji Hakeem Olarenwaju, Chairman of the Customs Consultative Council, and former ANLCA President, Chief Ernest Elochukwu.

Photo caption:

L-R: Member, Board of Trustees, ANLCA, Dayo Azeez; Chairman, Customs Consultative Council, Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju; Chairman, BoT ANLCA, Taiwo Mustapha; President ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji; Vice President, Segun Oduntan at the association’s 2025 Retreat and National Executive Council ( NEC) meeting in Lagos on Thursday.