By Prosper Makene
Simba Supply Chain Solution (SSCS) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Transport (NIT) to help train its personnel whole also allowing students and lecturers from the institute to do attachment at its industrial premises.
SSCS which is a leading transport and logistics company based in Dar es Salaam, wants NIT to sharpen skills of its workforce so that it can continue dominating the local market but at the same time accommodate NIT students and staff gain experience at its facilities.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam recently after signing the MoU, SSCS’ CEO, Hussein Dewji said that the agreement will provide excellence awards to the best performing graduates from automobile, transport and logistics, clearing and forwarding as well as truck drivers.
“We have decided to enter into an agreement with NIT because our company has more than 300 employees of which 60 percent are drivers who were trained at NIT,” Dewji said adding that as a result, his company decided to enter into a cooperation agreement with the institute in several other areas including research, practical training for students and facilitation of training for academic staff.
“This partnership aims to bridge the knowledge gap in the entire value chain in the transport and logistics sector in order to improve productivity and efficiency hence increase revenues to our institutions and the country as a whole,” he said.
Commenting on the deal, NIT Rector, Prof Zacharia Mganilwa it will help improve professionalism in the transport and logistics industry. Prof Mganilwa noted that through the deal, Simba Supply ChainSolution will provide practical training to NIT students hence enabling them to graduate as competent professionals ready to serve the market.
“The objective of this MoU is to promote mutual relationship between NIT and SSCS in enhancing skills development for students and staff in areas of logistics operations, supply chain, engineering and ICT related operations and management,” he noted.
The NIT Rector explained that there are 11 areas of collaborations and they include staff training and field work placement, study visits as well as industrial attachment for NIT staff to SSCS facilities. He named other areas as research and consultancy, training of SSCS drivers, capacity building in vehicle maintenance, freight clearing and forwarding and logistics as well as supply chain management.
“Through the agreement, NIT will assist SSCS in diffusion of communication and employment offers as well as participating in events organized by each one of us addressing professional challenges and designed theoretical and practical solutions,” Prof Mganilwa added.
The NIT Rector further stated that Simba Supply Chain Solution professionals will also be involved in NIT conducted training programmes.
However, NIT’s Rector underscored that the MoUs is also part of fulfilling the objectives of the World Bank funded East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP). “This partnerships has been made possible with support from the EASTRIP as we are now transforming our School of Aviation and Technology into the Centre of Excellence in Aviation and Technologies in Tanzania and the Eastern Africa region,” he stated while revealing that in the past one year, NIT has signed 13 similar agreements with transport and logistics partners.
In remarks made after the deal was signed, SSCS’ General Manager, Ajuaye Msese said it has come at the right time when the transport and logistics industry is facing modernization challenges. “With this deal, our company agreed to provide internships, field attachment, provide specific modules for visiting professionals, and industrial attachment for staff and students,” Msese said.
He pointed out that under the contract, NIT students will also gain practical knowledge and experience on new policies, procedures and requirements in the industry so as to be able to compete in the market after graduating. “Since this agreement will last for an initial period of five years, both of our people will gain a lot of expertise in the industry,” the SSCS GM stated.
NIT AND SSSC
NIT’s Rector, Professor Zacharia Mganilwa (C) in a tete-a-tete with SSCS’ CEO, Hussein Dewji (R)shortly after signing a MoU in Dar es Salaam recently. (Photo Courtesy of NIT.)
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