The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DHL

  • Whither my petition to NHRC, House Committee on Human Rights?

    SIR: I wish to appeal to the chairman, House Committee on Human Rights and the National Human Rights Commission to officially acknowledge the receipt of the petition I mailed separately to the two bodies. I did call the House Committee Secretary, Ado Abdul Sule earlier to inquire about the processes involved in submitting public petitions to the committee. He asked me to mail the petition to the National Human Rights Commission and also mailed the same petition to the committee.

    I have duly mailed the petition along with all relevant documents to the House Committee and the Zonal South West Office of the National Human Rights Commission via DHL express. The Sworn Affidavit was accompanied with a cover letter in each case explaining my complaints and prayers. The mails were appropriately delivered. I called the phone number provided on the Zonal South West Office of the National Human Rights Commission and I was told verbally that the mail was received. He did ask about my prayers in the petition to which I clearly explained that they were already provided in the petition.  Similarly, I sent a text message and also called Mr Sule and he confirmed verbally that the mail was received. I did appeal to him that I would appreciate if the receipt of the mail is officially acknowledged.

    The official acknowledgement of a public petition makes it clear to the petitioner that the presented case would be looked into. Similarly, the petitioner should be provided with information on progress being made on the petition. We must begin to show our citizens that they are duly respected and counted worthy by agencies established to protect their rights. This is the only way other nationals would begin to respect us and the culture of impunity would gradually become a thing of the past in our polity.

    I have lived in the United States of America for few years and my rights were never violated even as an international student. However, right in my homeland, my fundamental human rights were not only trampled upon but grossly violated and sustained with an orchestrated blackmail. The observed anomalies have continued without being resolved. This is the basis for appealing to the House Committee on Human Rights and the National Human Rights Commission to come to my aid and help protect my rights as a Nigerian citizen. Once again, I appeal to the two bodies to officially acknowledge the receipt of my petition and also act appropriately to investigate my complaints.

    • Akinlolu, Abdulazeez Adelaja

    University of Ilorin

     

  • GTBank promotes SMEs’ growth

    GTBank promotes SMEs’ growth

    Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has said it will pay more attention this year to facilitating the growth and development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) sector which is the engine of growth for developing economies.

    Its General Manager, Communication and External Relation, Mrs. Lola Adedina disclosed this when she led a delegation of the bank to pay a working visit to the Lagos head office of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation.

    According to her, GTBank has set up a website that will help SMEs sell their goods all over the country and abroad.

    She explained that one of the bank’s priorities this year is on SMEs because its management has realised that despite government’s effort and various loans, most of the SMEs are not successful.

    She said: “Past and present governments have channeled a lot of efforts towards SMEs but nothing has really happened, adding that majority of the SMEs that have benefitted from government loans still come back to bank to ask them for loans.

    “GTB decided to explore the areas in which it can add value to SMEs and we realised that e-commerce is a missing aspect. We have 160 million Nigerians out of which over 50 million are using the internet today and so GTB created a platform that enables our customers who have businesses to open their shop on our platform so that they can trade with anybody anywhere in the world.

    “We give them a payment engine which is called the GT bank web pay so that the customer is sure that it is secure and backed by GT might. We also offer the customer about five different types of logistic partners like DHL, FEDEX, Redstar and others who are well known in Nigeria so that they can manage your shipment and fulfillment for the customer.

    “So the woman who makes hand chain and does not know how she will sell her goods can come online and people in Abuja, Lagos, London, can buy her goods. This means that we are giving them a platform to trade their goods and a platform for e-commerce. Accountants, real estate agents can all come on the platform”.

     

  • Customer sues DHL for N3m for lost credentials

    A CUSTOMER Daniel Okon Etuk has sued DHL International Nigeria Limited at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, asking it to pay about N3million for the loss of its credentials.

    Etuk, a graduate of Food Engineering from the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State had earlier this year, contacted the courier firm to help deliver his original certificates to the Southwestern University in the Philippines, where he had been offered an admission to study Pharmacy.

    He stated in a statement of claims, that the university had requested the original copies of his credentials, including the West African School Certificate (WASC) , birth certificate, police report, among others, as part of the admission requirements.

    Etuk said it was in the process of getting the documents to the university that he contracted DHL, who charged N17,600 for the service, which he paid. He said the company’s officials promised to deliver the items within a week.

    The plaintiff stated that, hoping that everything would go as planned, he proceeded to make travel and accommodation plans, including buying air tickets for his trip to and from the Philippines.

    He averred that he was surprised when, weeks after the transaction, the university‘s Registry called to inform him that the documents were not delivered, a development that later caused him the admission, having incurred huge expenses.

    Etuk ssid the firm did not only fail in delivering the documents since June 19, when he handed its officials the documents, it has not been unable to account for them despite his several demands on them.

    The plaintiff, who accused the firm of negligence and breach of contract, is praying the court to declare, among others, that there is a valid and subsisting contract between him and the courier firm for the delivery of a parcel containing the original copies of the plaintiff’s certificates to the university in the Philippines.

    He also seeks a declaration that DHL breached its obligation under the contract, and was negligent when it failed to deliver the documents to the varsity and has been unable to account for them.

    Etuk is claiming from DHL, N2million as the amount he lost in school fees, flight ticket, accommodation, among others; N50,000 in general damages for the alleged breach of contract and N50,000 in exemplary damages for the defendant’s alleged negligence.

    The respondents are yet to file their defence.

     

  • DHL predicts boom for small agribusiness in Africa

    DHL predicts boom for small agribusiness in Africa

    Hope rising in Africa. This seems to be the blessed assurance of Charles Brewer, Managing Director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, who is very optimistic that one particular sector which has seen significant growth and still going strong in Africa is agribusiness, which entails the full value chain from agricultural production/farming through secondary processing, distribution and retailing to the end user/consumer (farm-to-fork concept).

    “The retail sector is booming in Africa, as is the rapid growth of populations and the African middle class. As a result of this expansion, there is a greater availability of and demand for good quality agricultural produce and processed food products than ever before.”

    He points to the recent report by World Bank – Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness – which revealed that Africa’s farmers and agribusinesses, has the propensity to create a trillion-dollar food market by 2030 – a three-fold increase from the current size of the market which is estimated to be worth $313 billion.

    “This expected growth highlights the growing market and many opportunities for South African agribusiness and related value chain role players to expand into Africa,” says Brewer.

    According to Hennie van der Merwe, CEO of the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC), based in South Africa, Africa provides a new market for agribusiness firms.

    “Given its increased spending power, demand for goods and untapped land resources, Africa is currently experiencing a revival in terms of its focus on agribusiness, not only to increase food self-sufficiency, but also to create jobs and economic activity, specifically in rural areas,” says van der Merwe.

    “In the current climate, Africa is increasingly offering greater growth forecasts,” he notes. However, he explains that while Africa is well-endowed with resources, it often lacks much of the necessary expertise to unlock the commercial potential of its agriculture resources, whereas South Africa is well regarded for its expertise in commercial farming and agribusiness.

    “One of the major limitations on agribusiness development in Africa is a human capacity and human skills constraint. The ability and experience to develop and manage commercial farming and agribusiness ventures are largely lacking in the African environment and that major technology transfer and capacity building would be necessary in this regard.”

    Van der Merwe says this is where the opportunity lies for local businesses and farmers to expand beyond their borders and offer expertise in neighbouring countries.

    Van der Merwe adds that it is vital to have partnerships in place before venturing into projects in Africa. “Partnerships with a local business or association in the specific country are necessary as business owners need to be provided with assistance, guidance and sometimes protection when in the area. It is also essential/indispensable to ensure that all the building blocks for working value chains are in place to ensure and support successful operation. A local partnership will also assist with analysing the market carefully to evaluate what the real market needs, requirements and opportunities are.”

    “The market in Africa is there and ready, but the question is how local businesses create a direct link to service the market needs,” concludes Brewer.

  • DHL employees rescue Nigerian student stranded in China

    MAGNANIMOUS employees of foremost courier firm, DHL Express Ltd, proved a few weeks ago that their job is not all about dispatching mails and cargo. They offered a lifeline to a distraught Nigerian student, Oluseun Faleye, in far away Peoples Republic of China.

    Oluseun, a final year student of Electronics and Telecommunications at the Shenyang Aerospace University (SAU), China, was staying in the Asian country on borrowed times following his inability to defray school fees until the gesture saved his drowning educational dream.

    The story of the embattled student was first published in The Nation on Sunday, April 7 in the Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr. Tunji Adegboyega’s column, wherein he urged members of the public to lend a helping hand to save Oluseun’s drowning educational dream. He was due to graduate in July but could not defray the tuition fees for lack of fund.

    Adegboyega, had captured Oluseun’s plight under the headline “The Faleye metaphor” thus: “…when Oluseun Samuel Faleye received his letter of admission into Shenyang Aerospace University (SAU) in China in September, 2011, to study electronics and telecommunications engineering, in furtherance of his course at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, his joy and that of his parents knew no bounds. Faleye had in 2011 concluded his diploma programme at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, which on March 30 of the same year signed a memorandum of understanding with SAU for the purpose of admitting the college’s products for a two-year degree programme.

    “His father, Chief S.A. Faleye, had in a letter of consent to the consular-general in the Chinese Embassy in Lagos, undertaken to take full responsibility for the payment of his school fees and any other financial involvement, before things started going awry. Any parent would not have thought twice before consenting to such a project. Prior to the signing of the MOU with the Chinese university, products of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology used to secure employment with the airlines or other aviation agencies with their diploma certificates. Faleye had hoped to get a job after the Zaria training.

    “However, a new policy which made it mandatory for those of them from the Zaria college seeking employment in the aviation agencies to have first degree came into being at about the time Faleye was leaving the college. This apparently informed the college’s decision to sign the MOU with the Chinese university so that the diploma holders would be able to go there for their first degree programme.

    “Faleye and his colleagues were thus in a quagmire, as none of those agencies employed the Zaria college’s diploma holder after that policy took off; at least initially. It was after he had stayed at home for about a year doing nothing that his parents decided to fulfill all righteousness: if what would get him employment was obtaining the first degree in the Chinese university with which the college had signed an MOU, so be it. So, they pulled resources together to ensure that their investment on their son in the aviation college would not be in vain.

    “Unfortunately for him, it was after he had left for China that some of the aviation agencies changed their mind and recruited some of his colleagues. Unfortunately too, for him, things did not go as planned as they sometimes don’t. The projection of raising the about N4 million needed for the school fees soon got derailed… his father, in his 70s, had to sell some of his property to ensure he completes his studies. His programme, which commenced in 2011, is supposed to end in July. But Faleye, the last child of his parents, is in a quagmire: he is not sure of concluding the programme due to the financial challenges he is currently facing. About N1 million is standing between him and the conclusion of his programme. If help does not come, all the investments in China since 2011 when he secured admission into the college would go down the drain.

    “When he realised the precarious situation in which he is, he managed to secure a teaching job in China. But that country is a no-nonsense country, they quickly stopped him because, as they said, the job is for their citizens. As things stand, Faleye is willing and ready to enter into agreement with any individual, corporate organisation or institution that is ready to offer assistance, on how the money would be repaid. “

    Soon, after the piece was published, some Nigerians, including one Prof. Adeleke Ojo of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, offered Oluseun the sum of N100, 000 while Adetumbi Omoniyi and one Asimi also gave him N2000 and N1000 respectively. However, the total sum was a far cry from the amount needed to bail Oluseun out of his fix. This prompted Adegboyega to once again run the story on April 17. The story caught the eyes of the DHL benevolent employees who investigated the veracity of his story and found it to be true. Hence, the employees of the courier firm pooled a whopping N1.5 million together and forwarded same to Oluseun’s school so he could complete his degree programme.

    Explaining the motive behind the gesture during a chat with our correspondent, the Chairperson of the Employees’ Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, Mrs. Funmi Glover, said: ”Over 15 years ago, we started a fund called United Nations International Children Education Fund(UNICEF) with one per cent of all employees monthly salary to assist in the execution of some projects undertaken by the international organisation. The projects were not forthcoming and that was the reason why we changed the name to Employees CRS Project in 2012 and Oluseun is the first individual beneficiary of the scheme.”

    Expatiating further, Mrs. Glover, who doubles as the Human Resources Manager of the company, said: “It was one of our members called Festus Oluwatuyi, who actually read the article in The Nation and brought it to our attention. We presented his case in our meetings and carried out a lot of fact-checking including his background, the story and other necessary checks. We painstakingly debated his situation in order to determine whether he actually deserved our help because we are also accountable to all the employees, who are contributors to the fund.

    “We got in touch with his former school in Nigeria, which confirmed that he is one of their former students and that it had a relationship with the Chinese university. We also spoke with Oluseun on skype and phone before we finally agreed to assist him

    “The total amount forwarded to him was about N1.2 million, including his return ticket to Nigeria when he finishes his studies. While we cannot guarantee him employment in our company, we shall use our goodwill to solicit employment for him in the aviation sector.”

    Responding, Oluseun’s father, Chief Samson Faleye, thanked DHL employees for their kind gesture, adding that but for their timely intervention; his son would have been deported.

    “I cannot thank DHL Express employees enough for offering my son a lifeline to complete his studies in China. I had taught that I would be able to raise enough money to see him through school but my hopes were dashed and I could not raise enough money to carry out the responsibility despite selling a two-acre plot of land in Ogun State for the purpose of paying his school fees when his admission came through.

     

  • Why we are successful, by DHL MD

    Managing Director ,DHL Express,  Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Charles Brewer, has said the company has been able to record success as a result of its commitment and their unrelent efforts to satisfied their customers.

    He said despite the various challenges, the firm has recorded successes in the delivery and transporting of strange request by the clients.

    According to him, the increase in requests to transport various endangered animals was particularly noteworthy.

    “For instance, a highlight in 2012 was moving three endangered Black Rhinos from the UK to the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. The 10-hour journey from Manston, UK airport to Tanzania included a refuelling stop in Italy and took place aboard a specially outfitted Boeing 757. Special accommodation included rhino-sized life-saving devices and temperature controlled conditions in the cabin, and the transport team included two rhino keepers, two aircraft engineers and a specialist veterinarian.

    “It’s very special that we can use our core capability of logistics to support such valuable conservation efforts,” says Brewer.

  • DHL Nigeria appoints new officers

    DHL Nigeria appoints new officers

    DHL Nigeria Limited has appointed Stephen Inegbedion as the new Country Operations Manager for Nigeria.

    Inegbedion, a Systems Analyst, according to a statement, joined DHL International Nigeria Limited over 17 years ago.

    He started his career in DHL as Fleet/Data Executive. He became Operations Analyst and later combined the two roles as Fleet and Operations Analyst Executive. In 2004, he was appointed Operations Performance Manager – Nigeria and until recently the Ground Operations Manager LOS & Western Nigeria.

    Inegbedion is an experienced express logistics manager whose training and development cut across DHL’s vast global network.

    The company also appointed Mrs Olayemi Olusona as the Head, Customer Service.

    Mrs Olayemi was the Customer Enquiry Manager and was responsible for the management of daily operations of the Contact Centre, ensuring adherence to processes, systems and schedules, to drive Service excellence, quality, productivity and maximise revenue generating opportunities.

    She Joined DHL Express Customer Service in 2004 and has held various positions in the CS Department. She has good experience and knowledge of the various processes in the department.

    In her position she has a responsibility to design, develop and execute Customer Service initiatives and strategies that will ensure Service Excellence and best – in – class service is delivered to DHL Customers.

    Mrs Olayemi holds a BSc (Ed) in Economics and an MBA in Marketing from Ladoke Akintola University in Oyo State.