Prominent stakeholders in the maritime sector have thrown their weight behind the forth coming 2021 edition of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) Annual Conference/Awards slated to hold at the prestigious  Sheraton Hotel  Ikeja on Friday, 19th November, 2021. The theme of the Conference is Seamless Port Operations in Nigeria.

Infinity Tyres

According to the President of AMJON, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri, this post COVID-19 edition has been repackaged to be the biggest event to be held by the vibrant Nigerian Maritime press this year.

Also, Chairman Organising Committee, Mr Innocent Orok  disclosed that the  event  which will be a gathering of Who is Who in the maritime industry and allied transport and logistics chain sub-sector, will also honour deserving and patriotic Nigerians who are working  hard to reposition and change the narratives in the Nigeria maritime economy.

He disclosed that while the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi who is the Guest of Honour is slated to declare the two-day event open, President of the Association of Nigeria  Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA),  Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike (Iju Ozubulu) has graciously accepted to chair the occasion.

Mr Orok said that the event will feature  paper presentations by  Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of  Government agencies and Organisations including  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority  (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON),  Grimaldi Group, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, among  others.

The high point of this year’s event is the Award ceremony and launching of the AMJON Express Magazine,  a  Special Purpose publication packaged by the topnotch professionals in the association led by the award winning Maritime/Energy journalist, Mr Muyiwa Lucas as the Editorial Production Committee Chairman and Uzor Odigbo, an Editor at the Ninche Newspaper who is the Editor  of the magazine

Mr Orok stated that the Magazine would be a collectors’ item and reference material for Maritime journalists and students.

He noted that prominent industry figures who despite the challenges are recording giant strides will be honoured at the event.

The  Awardees are DG of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh; Acting MD of NPA, Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko;  DG of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim; Rector of MAN, Oron, Comdr. Emmanuel Effedua and Gbenga Omotosho,  Honourable Commissioner of Information and  Strategy, Lagos State.

Others are Comptroller Yusuf Malanta  of Apapa Customs Command; Comptroller Festus Okun of PTML Command; Comptroller Immigration, Ikoyi Passport Office;  Comrade Adewale  Adeyanju, President  General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria;  Engr. Sarat  Braimah,  Lagos Area Manager NIWA; Tarzan Balogun, President  ATBOWATON;  Dr Koyode Farinto, National Vice President ANLCA; Alhaji Abdulazeez Babatunde, National Secretary ANLCA; Hajia Bola Muse, National Financial Secretary, ANLCA and Segun Alabi, President, Advocacy for Maritime Development Association.

Others are: PTML terminal, ICNL, MMA  and ONNE Chapters  of ANLCA.

Meanwhile, the president of AMJON, Mr Paul Ogbuokiri has stated that the event is set to be the best and the biggest edition. He called on stakeholders in the industry to endevour to participate in this one of its kind event as issues concerning the industry will be dissected on sector by sector basis and way forward for the Nigerian maritime economy with a communique issued at the end of the  programme.