Prof. Promise Oparah Bags Prestigious CILSCM Fellowship, Strengthens UNIZIK’s Footprint in Logistics Excellence
By Gabriel Chy Alonta
Prof. Promise Chika Oparah has been formally inducted as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management (CILSCM Global), marking a significant milestone in his career and in the advancement of logistics and supply chain education in Nigeria.
The induction ceremony, held on March 21, 2026, at Philjul Events Gallery, Lagos, brought together leading professionals, scholars, and industry stakeholders in a celebration of excellence, capacity development, and the future of supply chain management.
Established under the Chartered-ship House Bill No. 1453 (2018), CILSCM stands as Nigeria’s foremost professional body for logistics and supply chain experts, with operational scope spanning Packaging, Ordering processes, Warehousing, Inventory management, Transportation management, Materials management, and Information control – collectively known as POWITMI.
For Prof. Oparah, who currently serves as Coordinator, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Programme at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as well as President of the Association of Marketing Academic Professionals (AMAP), the fellowship represents both recognition and responsibility.
His induction not only reflects years of scholarly contribution and professional engagement but also reinforces the growing relevance of academia-industry synergy in addressing Nigeria’s evolving logistics challenges.
In his welcome address, President of CILSCM Global, Dr. Micheal N. Fadipe, emphasized the institute’s foundational vision of building competence and setting standards in a critical sector of national development.
“We were founded by professionals who recognized the need to develop standards of excellence and increase the number of trained, qualified personnel in our rapidly developing nation,” he stated, adding that the institute is poised to lead not only in Nigeria but on the global stage.
Echoing the strategic importance of the field, he remarked, “You cannot fight a war and succeed without logistics,” a statement that resonated strongly with participants and underscored the indispensable role of logistics in both economic and national security frameworks.
Earlier, in a keynote address, supply chain expert Dr. Aliyu Ilias dissected the theme “VUCA and the Nigerian Supply Chain Management,” offering deep insights into the realities shaping business operations in the country.
He explained that volatility in Nigeria manifests through sudden shifts in cost, transportation, regulations, and demand—factors that complicate planning. Uncertainty, he noted, stems from limited predictability and incomplete information, even in seemingly stable conditions.
On complexity, he highlighted the challenge of navigating multiple interconnected variables and stakeholders, while ambiguity, according to him, arises when available data lacks clear interpretation, leaving decision-makers without reliable precedents.
Amid these realities, the honour reaffirms Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s strategic role in producing thought leaders and professionals capable of shaping Nigeria’s economic and industrial space.
