Oduntan Eulogizes Nwokeoji, ANLCA President At 68

…As Lagos Zone Describes Him As Man of Peace, Vision And Capacity

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) along with friends, well wishers and associates on Thursday gathered in Lagos to celebrate the  birthday of the National President, Emenike Kingsley Nwokeoji, who clocked 68 on May 30, 2025.

The celebration hosted by ANLCA Vice President Segun Oduntan, was the third in a series of events organised to honour the amiable ANLCA leader, following earlier gathering with family and friends in Uyo and Port Harcourt.

Unarguably a man of the people with peaceful disposition and uncanny capacity to carry along all shades of sub interests, the event attracted ANLCA bigwigs, including members of the National Executive Committee (NECOM) and Chapter Chairmen, with ANLCA Patron Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, President of Oodua Maritime Forum, Chief Oye Ariyo, and others at the front row.

The indefatigable and fiercely loyal Vice President, Prince Oduntan in his goodwill message lauded Nwokeoji for successfully reuniting the ANLCA family and bringing peace to the association, after years of beleaguered atmosphere and avoidable crisis.

Speaking with select journalists, the Essential Prince Oduntan noted that under Nwokeoji’s leadership, ANLCA has recovered substantially from loses recorded during the locust years and transformed into a much more united house enjoying improved family tranquility, crucial for shared business and professional interests.

“We thank God for the profession that God has laid in our hands. Somebody was asking the President what would be his legacy, as we are almost two years in office. The President answered him and said he has restored peace in ANLCA by 90 percent”, Oduntan said.

Recalling how he joined others to encourage Nwokeoji to run for the presidency to bring about political leadership balance and administer a recovery process following the prolonged conflicts, Oduntan said he was convinced that Nwokeoji had what it takes to bring the association out of the wood and to mend the gaping fences and cracks due to disagreements.

“I told him, if you don’t take this throne now, nobody would do it, the profession was nose-diving at the time, and we were able to convince him. I think today, what we call stakeholders engagement which has hitherto died between customs and our association has now been restored.

“If I am not mistaken, our people at the chapter level can attest to it, and this is part of the good works and recommendations that the President has done. Some of us believed in his sincerity and capacity to serve because if you look back, he was such a loyal and hardworking vice to President Olayiwola Shittu; so knew he would achieve”

“Coming back the election manifesto, you people will remember that he rand on the mantra of the Nwokeoji, Oduntan Restoration Team, designed to bring back peace. If we are sincere to ourselves, that is a promise that has long been delivered.

“Today, the Nigeria Customs Service, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, other critical stakeholders and agencies of government have been engaging, so, the president has achieved all-round.”

Oduntan also stressed the importance of integrity for customs brokers, urging ANLCA members to emulate Nwokeoji.

“After a long while, ANLCA is having a president with exemplary business integrity and that is something government agencies respect most. Oga Emenike does not believe in short cut and if a leader is submitting himself to the due process and is compliant, it is a fine example his members should emulate. His integrity example underscores the association’s insistence for all NECOM members and chapter executives to hold valid licenses and operate thriving personal businesses to maintain the association’s image”, Oduntan enthused.

On his part, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, ANLCA Patron, praised Nwokeoji’s humility and firmness. He appealed to NECOM members to continue to operate as a united family, and to continue to be united in resolving internal issues.

“I want to appeal to our NECOM to look at themselves as one big happy family, so that they can always solve their problems internally, a house divided against itself can never stand.” he said.

Chief Oye Ariyo, President of Oodua Maritime, offered heartfelt prayers for Nwokeoji, acknowledging the transformation within ANLCA under his leadership.

“ANLCA was in trouble before you came onboard, but by the Grace of God, there is peace now across the divide.”

Also speaking, the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the ANLCA President, Barrister Raymond Oyinmba, described his boss as a “teacher, a true Christian, and moulder of good character.”

According to Oyinmba, Nwokeoji’s leadership style, characterized by fairness and  straight forwardness has brought an end to past crisis in various chapters, including those in Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Earlier, Women and Council of Elders group from the Murtala Muhammed Airport chapter visited the President at the Secretariat, offering praises and prayers for restoring peace to the association.

Bolatito Kareem, speaking on their behalf, expressed gratitude for the renewed peace at their chapter, which has positively impacted business.

Responding to the outpouring of tributes, Nwokeoji, visibly moved, expressed his appreciation, noting that he is usually not the typical birthday kind, and thanked  all the chapter, zones and members, especially Onne chapter and the Western zone mobilized by his VP, Oduntan to roll out the drums to celebrate him.

In particularly, the ANLCA NP said the “sustenance of peace is in the hands of God”, even as emphasized human effort in educating members and fostering understanding; particularly among those who may still harbor grievances from past elections.

He lamented that there are still pockets of grudges but expressed gratitude that the majority have signed up for peace and are genuinely committed.

“Some people that lost election during my time…by now, I expect that the pain should have gone down and for them to prepare for the next one, but they are still trying to undermine all our activities.”

Despite these challenges, Emenike affirmed the association’s commitment to using wisdom and grace to overcome them, acknowledging that while absolute peace is still work in progress, “we have reasonable peace and we are moving forward.”

On chapter retreat, Nwokeoji confirmed that the planned retreat for chapter executives remains on course, disclosing that the first part already held at the National Secretariat.

He explained that the next, more elaborate session will be combined with the NEC meeting, focusing on continuous training and retraining for chapter chairmen, many of whom he said are new to their roles.

It will be recalled that the birthday celebration earlier held in Port Harcourt on the courtesy of the Onne Chapter Chairman, Chief Ifeanyi Nsikaku, elders of the association and national leaders including Chief Ernest Elochukwu,  Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Skido (Chief Okafor), Kingsley Okafor and others.