The National President of CILT Nigeria, Major General U. T. Usman (rtd), has written a moving tribute to the late Emeritus Prof. Michael Olanrewaju Filani, (Fcilt), former National President, Cilt, Nigeria

In the times and life of Emeritus Prof. Michael O. Filani, he gave the CILT, Nigeria over a decade of selfless service and commitment to its vision and mission. Today, he is gone, but the memories of him, his ideals, what he stood for and gave CILT, Nigeria are now everlasting legacies of him.

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Nigeria and in-fact, since becoming a Council Member, he introduced and pioneered the activities of the Academic Board in its true sense, by ensuring that Education and Memberships of the Institute were significantly raised up to the extent that, CILT International, almost granted Nigeria an Independent Council.

As the President of the Institute and Chairman of Council, he attended and managed all council meetings where various policies and programmes were approved; through that, the Institute was lifted from its chequered state to a very high and stable state. On the International scene, he led Nigerian delegation to all the six “Africa Forum” events as well as the six “International Conventions” in the six years he led the Institute.

Under his leadership, CILT, Nigeria was able to develop its International Training and Skill Acquisition programmes between Nigeria and other affiliate Countries like Hong Kong, Malaysia and United Kingdom among others. He attracted the University community to a healthy relationship with the Institute and through that made it possible for seven Nigerian tertiary Institutions to be accredited as training providers of the Institute. The process for the accreditation of some others was equally laid and is being vigorously pursued.

Between 2006 and 2012, when he headed the Institute, he was able to restore a cordial relationship between the Local and International Councils of the CILT. It was through his numerous presentations and consultations that Nigeria was elevated and it had to lead other African Countries in terms of the rating for governance, membership, education and relationship with other CILT Independent Councils.

As a visionary leader he explored the philosophy of the Africa Forum, stated the position of Africa and secured Africa’s leadership in the organization of the forum. He proposed and obtained for the holder of the elective office of the Chairman of Africa Forum, to automatically become the International Vice President of the Institute for Africa. He equally facilitated the Africa Forum that was hosted by Nigeria at Abuja, Nigeria in 2012. We use this medium to thank the immediate past International President, Prof. Alan Waller, OBE, FCILT for gracing the occasion and our indefatigable immediate past Africa Forum Chairman/IVP for giving CILT Nigeria the hosting right of the Africa Forum.

Under his guide, the Institute was able to produce the constitution and Bye – laws of CILT Nigeria as well as the Draft Bill that is currently before the National Assembly. While realizing that the engine of the Institute is the Secretariat, he re-organized it, helped to secure its current National Secretariat office, created committees of its Council, whose functions helped to up lift the activities of the Institute in other areas. He facilitated the establishment and inauguration of the “Young Members Forum” and WILAT (Women in Logistics and Transport) arms of the Institute.

In-fact, CILT rose to its esteemed status under his leadership with much more cordial relationship with the Corporate Members (organizations) of the Institute, which helped in ensuring that the Institute provided their needed manpower skills and professionalism. He, as the National President, contributed immensely in shaping the growth of the industry through his service in the following capacities:

1. Chairman, Ministerial Technical Committee, National Transport Commission, held in 2011.
2. Chairman, Ministerial Committee on National Transport Policy that produced the National Transport Draft Policy, 2010.
3. Member of Committee that produced the Draft Transport Content Policy of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Policy document, 2011.
4. Member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Transport, Zaria, 2009 – 2012.

We at the CILT, mourn his passing on. We mourn, not because we do not believe; we mourn because it happened suddenly and at the point we were yet to express our gratitude to him for all his contributions to the growth and development of the Institute.

We pray God to accept his soul, bless his family and grant all of us the fortitude to bear this heavy loss, Amen. 

Major General U. T. Usman (rtd),
National President, CILT Nigeria.