The President and Chair of Council of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Mrs. Mfon Ekong Usoro, FCILT, has highlighted far-reaching reforms and achievements under her administration, describing them as part of the Institute’s transformation journey. She made this known while delivering her welcome address at the 2025 CILT Nigeria Annual Conference held at the Civic Centre, Lagos.
Welcoming dignitaries, delegates, and industry professionals, Mrs. Usoro expressed delight at the continuous growth and quality of participation in the annual event. She noted that the conference had become a rallying point for logistics, transport, and supply chain experts across Nigeria and beyond. “Our conferences continue to grow from strength to strength, both in the quality of the presentations and the calibre of persons in attendance,” she stated.
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, founded in 1919 in the United Kingdom, has a global presence in over 100 countries. Usoro explained that the Nigerian branch, established in 1958, has evolved into a leading centre for human capital development, offering internationally recognized professional courses and certifications in supply chain, transport, and logistics.
Speaking on this year’s conference, she commended the Planning Committee chaired by Professor Kayode Oyesiku, FCILT, for curating an intellectually stimulating programme that addresses key national issues in the transport, logistics, and blue economy sectors. She said the keynote address by Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, FCILT, would further help shape the implementation of government policies in the maritime and logistics industries.
Usoro noted that CILT Nigeria has, in recent years, established strategic collaborations with institutions and agencies such as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM), and the Multimix Academy. These partnerships, she said, are aimed at embedding logistics principles in public procurement and advancing civil-military cooperation in logistics education.
The CILT President revealed that membership of the Institute has witnessed steady growth since 2021, with new registrations rising from 169 members that year to over 600 annually between 2022 and 2025. “CILT Nigeria has transformed from being known for colourful delegations at international conferences to being recognized as one of the most impactful globally,” she noted.
On governance and accountability, Mrs. Usoro reported that her administration had regularised CILT’s corporate registration, established a statutory Board of Directors, and cleared decades-old arrears of filings at the Corporate Affairs Commission. She said the reforms had strengthened transparency and restored the Institute’s credibility within the professional community.
Financially, she said, the Institute had recorded remarkable improvement, with revenue increasing from ₦7.8 million in 2021 to ₦55 million in the third quarter of 2025. Similarly, its liquid assets rose from ₦17 million to ₦123 million within the same period. “Accountability and transparency have been the watchwords of our administration,” she affirmed.
Mrs. Usoro also disclosed that CILT Nigeria had fully embraced digital transformation, introducing an improved website, online payment systems, and electronic voting platforms. She said the introduction of a secure, transparent e-voting system had eliminated stress and cost associated with physical elections, while members could now make payments seamlessly through a digital gateway.
To strengthen academic engagement, the President announced the establishment of the CILT Academics in Logistics and Transport (CILT-ACALOT) Forum, a body of university scholars who support the Institute’s research and training initiatives. The forum, she said, serves as a permanent faculty for CILT programmes and plays a major role in producing research presented at conferences.
Usoro further stated that CILT Nigeria had institutionalized its annual Book of Proceedings, which compiles and publishes research papers and presentations from each conference. “We have turned our conferences into platforms of knowledge production and documentation,” she said, unveiling the 2025 edition during the event.
She lauded the contributions of Nigerian professionals within the global CILT network, citing the roles of Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma and Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, who hold key positions in CILT International. The continuous participation of CILT International President, Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey, FCILT, in Nigerian conferences, she added, is a testament to the Institute’s growing global influence.
Expressing gratitude to her team, Mrs. Usoro praised the collaboration and commitment of academics, military officers, and industry leaders who served on various committees and councils. “It is not a light matter for eminent professors and generals to agree to work with and under the leadership of a ‘small madam,’” she said, drawing laughter from the audience.
She also used the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that the newly created Transport Officer Cadre positions in the public service are filled by professionals trained in logistics and transport. According to her, this would give confidence to students studying logistics and supply chain management in Nigerian universities and ensure that the sector contributes effectively to the nation’s economic renewal agenda.
Concluding her address, Mrs. Usoro invited delegates to participate in the conference’s technical sessions, cultural displays, and tourism activities scheduled across Lagos. “In Lagos, we are not shy to admit that fun is good for the spirit,” she said. “Enjoy Lagos, the City of Excellence. Eko Oni Baje o!” she declared, to a warm round of applause from participants.
