…As NSML, NPA, NIWA, NDLEA, Webb Fontaine, others bag AMJON Excellence Awards
Photo caption-L-R: Managing Director, Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ope Babalola; Rep of ES/CEO, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Mr. Sam Anyanwu; GM, Corporate and Strategic Communication, NPA, Barr (Mrs) Yemisi Oyinlola; MD, NSML, Mr Abdulkadir Ahmed; GM, Marine Services, NIWA, Engr. Joseph Ororo; Rep of NDLEA Chairman, Dr. (Mrs) Omolade Faboyede;, and President of AMJON, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri, during the 2022 edition of the Annual AMJON Conference and Awards in Lagos…Monday
In order for Nigeria to fully maximise the potentials of the Blue Economy, it must insist on enforcing global standards and best practices.
This was a major stand of most of the participants at the 2022 Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) Conference and Awards held on Monday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Aside the talk shop which was contributed to by major industry players like Nigerian Ports Authority, National Inland Waters Authority, Webb Fountaine, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ship Management Limited (NSML) etc, some public and private industry players were also recognised with awards of Excellence.
The theme of the event which was commended by stakeholders as being apt, was ‘Maximising the Blue Economy through Automation’.
The MD, NSML, Mr. Abdulkadir noted that Nigeria has come of age in making port process less cumbersome and seamlessly profitable.
He added that there are standards to meet not peculiar to Nigeria, stating that it can be actualised through technology efficiency in all sectors of the economy.
“For Nigeria to realise it’s potentials, all effort must be pulled together to strengthen all agencies, institutions of government and the private sector and emulate the goings on in other worlds”, he said.
Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC) in its address, ex-rayed the importance of making the Ports and it’s users free from fraudulent practitioners and insisted that the NSC has been in the forefront of ensuring that Nigerian Ports are the best in the world through efficient and prompt evacuation of cargoes which engenders ease of doing business.
The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime was represented at the AMJON Conference by Mr. Sam Anyanwu, a Director in the Council. While the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency was also represented by another Director in the person of Mr. Isichei Osamgbi.
The MD of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, was represented by the director marine services, NIWA, Engr Ororo.
He said that the agency has been doing a lot to ensure Nigeria’s waterways are mapped out, dredged and free to convey goods on barges through the riverine areas.
Engineer Joseph Ororo said that NIWA has made it and still forging ahead to ensure the transportation of heavy goods through the roads is stopped in Nigeria.
Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu who was represented by his media adviser, Mr Ismail Aniemu, in
his goodwill message, thanked AMJON for the event as well as reeled out his transformational efforts at MOWCA.
On its part, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Managing Director, Mohammed Bello-Koko, represented by Barr. Mrs. Yemisi Oyinlola, General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication, gave a vivid account of how the government has so far upped the ante in port operations in Nigeria.
According to her, the ports have had and still having credible and sustainable innovations and development owing to efficient administration.
She disclosed that all ports in Nigeria are going through reconstruction and concessions aimed at sustaining and incorporating the private sector to further sustain growth and productivity.
The conference which was highly successful touched on vital areas of maximising the blue economy championed by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
Representative of the NIMASA DG urged all sectors to keep fine tuning the blue economy to engender seamless implementation.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Tony Nwabunike, commended AMJON and stressed the need for its members to continue the pursuit of objectivism in journalism practice. His message was read on his behalf by the acting National President, Dr. Kayode Farinto.
Executive Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), thanked AMJON for assisting the agency in forming a formidable force against drug peddlers.
Marwa who was represented by Dr. (Mrs) Omolade Faboyede, director seaports operation, NDLEA, noted that the fight against drug barons and cartels in Nigeria and the world over is formidable and said, “in every four drug abusers, there is one woman”.
She called on well meaning Nigerians to join the fight against drug menace in schools saying even secondary schools, students have started smoking and inhaling dangerous drugs to the detriment of their future.
One of the highlights of the conference was an award presented to Webb Fontaine as the Most Innovative ICT firm in Nigeria in 2022.
In his good will message, the Managing Director of Webb Fontaine, Mr. Ope Babalola, expressed gladness over the theme of the conference and further said that the award given to his company will further push the ICT company to do more in port technology, security and prompt cargo evaluation and evacuation.
Executive Secretary/CE of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, was recognized with -Pragmatic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.
Others include Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko,
Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA)- Excellent Leadership Award 2022.
Chief Henry Njoku, Vice Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) Governing Board-Excellent Maritime Personality Leadership Award 2022.
Chief Dr. George Moghalu, Managing Director National inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)-Dynamic Public Servant Leadership Award 2022.
Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA)-Dynamic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.
Mr. Babatope Fajimirokun, aka Simtop, National President, WABOTAN-Nigeria Waterways Transportation Personality of the Year Award 2022.
Comptroller Al-Bashir Hamisu, Customs FOU Zone -Excellence in Service Award 2022.
Lagos National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) was also recognised with an Excellence award.
For your great and developmental strides in the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, the Head of the office Sr.(Engr.) Braimoh Sarat was also recognised.
Mr Ismail Aniemu, Publisher, Journal Magazine and Journal Ng Online and Mr. Roland Ekama Publisher, Daily Focus News Online Nigeria were also recognised for their heroic contributions to growth of journalism.
Dr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, Managing Director, NLNG Shipping Management Ltd (NSML) was also recognised for his efforts in unquantifiable philanthropic feats and unparalleled seafaring services in Nigeria.
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman NDLEA, was not left out. He was also recognized.
