L-R: Head of People Function, APM Terminals Nigeria, Uzoma Ben-Ude; pioneer staff and Lead Data Analyst, APM Terminals Apapa, Olufisayo Makinde; and Country CEO, APM Terminals Nigeria, Koen De Backker, during an event to honour the terminal’s pioneer employees at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, on Friday.
APM Terminals Apapa has honoured 60 pioneer employees with N1.5 million gift vouchers each, in recognition of two decades of dedication, resilience and commitment to the growth of the terminal.
The special celebration brought together the company’s management and employees who joined APM Terminals Apapa in its early years, many of whom have spent their entire careers with the company. The milestone offered an opportunity to reflect on the terminal’s remarkable transformation from largely manual operations into a modern, digitally driven facility.
Speaking at the event, APM Terminals Nigeria Country CEO, Koen De Backker, who previously worked with the company between 2008 and 2012, said, “I remember faces and I certainly remember the smiles. And what I do remember is your performance, persistence and resilience.”
L-R: Chief Financial Officer, APM Terminals Apapa, Lambratu Benka-Coker; pioneer staff and Planning Superintendent, APM Terminals Apapa, Raphael Okolo; and APM Terminals Apapa Managing Director, Kamal Alhraishat, during an event to honour the terminal’s pioneer employees at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, on Friday.
While commending the employees for the role they played in building the terminal’s reputation and success, De Backker said he was particularly proud of how far APM Terminals Apapa had come, describing it as a flagship terminal whose name and reputation now extend beyond Nigeria.
“Today we talk about Apapa and I’m very proud. It’s a flagship terminal, and the name Apapa comes up everywhere you go. So that is you guys,” he said.
APM Terminals Apapa, Managing Director, Kamal Alhraishat, described the 60 honourees as the foundation upon which the terminal’s achievements have been built.
He urged the employees to take pride in the transformation they had helped deliver, stressing that investment in technology and systems could only succeed because of the people behind them.
“What you see now is the result of your hard work and dedication. So be proud of that. You are the foundation of this company. We invested in systems. We invested in everything. But all of that is nothing without the people,” Alhraishat said.
He also challenged the experienced employees to share their knowledge and help prepare younger colleagues for the next chapter of the terminal’s development.
Head of People Function, APM Terminals Nigeria, Uzoma Ben-Ude, said the 20-year journey of the pioneer employees reflected their determination and commitment to the company. She encouraged the honourees to celebrate the milestone with their families, recognising the support they had provided throughout their careers.
Among those honoured was Magnus Ogbodu, Workforce Manager and one of the terminal’s earliest employees, who said he was delighted to have witnessed its transformation while remaining part of its workforce after 20 years. He said APM Terminals had positively transformed his life and that of his family.
L-R: Pioneer employees of APM Terminals Apapa alongside some members of the management team, during an event to honour the terminal’s pioneer employees at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, on Friday.
Lead Data Analyst, APM Terminals, Olufisayo Makinde, highlighted the company’s culture and opportunities for growth as key aspects of her journey, while Billing and Waiver Lead, Chienyenwa Amaefule, said patience was one of the most valuable lessons she had learnt. Reflecting on the terminal’s early days, Amaefule recalled an operation that was largely manual, contrasting it with today’s technology-enabled environment.
She encouraged new and younger staff members to give their best, stressing that dedication and patience remain essential to achieving lasting results.
APM Terminals Apapa is Nigeria’s leading container terminal, supporting the movement of goods through the Lagos port and playing an important role in facilitating trade and strengthening supply-chain connectivity.
Since commencing operations at the Lagos Port Complex Apapa in 2006, the terminal has undergone significant investment and transformation, evolving its infrastructure, technology and processes while developing the people at the heart of its operations.
