Dearth of skills, funding worry supply chain management practitioners

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Managing Director of MDS Logistics, Solomon Aigbavboa

Supply chain management practitioners have said that dearth of skills, lack of infrastructure and inadequate funding pose challenges to efficient supply chain management in the country.

Describing the development as uncertain, they said most organisations were experiencing difficulty in sourcing for trained and competent professionals to occupy relevant positions, as no Nigerian university had commenced training in supply chain management.

They are worried that the country was yet to produce SCM graduates, who are likely to stand out, given the opportunities that abound in the sector. Managing Director of MDS Logistics, Solomon Aigbavboa, who proffered solutions to the challenge, called for government’s intervention and public private partnership (PPP) to fill the gaps in the sub-sector.

Aigbavboa, made the assertion at the unveiling of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in supply chain by the Malaysian University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Lagos while speaking on “Education in Supply Chain Management - a Timely National Focus”.

He noted that the increasing role of supply chain managers in business, MBA programmes in SCM and logistics have experienced a surge in developed countries of the world.

Similar growth, he noted, has eluded developing countries like Nigeria, while new job openings, competitive salaries and potential for advancement in the field have inspired many MBA programmes to commence.

“There is the need for increased awareness and SCM practice. It is our level of industrial and educational development that makes it difficult to get capable hands in organisations.

“In the university system, you will soon find some institutions that will introduce MBA in SCM. With such programmes, the dearth of skill-gap would be closed permanently.

We are drawing the attention of both the private and public sectors to a critical aspect of our nationhood, which is a national focus on supply chain education in the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Multimix Academy, a global learning centre, has partnered with the MUST to train students on SCM. The programme, according to the institute, is expected to run for a year following efforts at ensuring that Nigerians become certified supply chain managers.

Managing Director of the academy, Obiora Madu, who noted that the programme was essential for Nigerians, particularly during economic recession, added that by the time Nigeria began to adopt supply chain principles in their dealings, it would trigger a revolution in the industry.

Earlier, Dean, School of Science and Technology, Prof. Sellappan Palaniappan and Head, Institute of post graduate studies, Janaka Low, both of MUST who were facilitators at the training, urged the participants to be dedicated throughout the period of study.