Stakeholders Set for the AMJON Annual Conference/Awards

Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko Ag. Managing Director, NPA

The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) is set to hold the 2021 edition of her Annual Conference/Awards slated to hold at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel Ikeja on Friday, 19th November, 2021.

The theme of the Conference which is poised to be the biggest of its type in the maritime industry, is ‘Seamless Port Operations in Nigeria’.

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

The topic is apt because it is set to unravel and proffer solutions to the myriads of bottlenecks bedevilling the industry’s full potentials.

Chairman Organising Committee, Mr Innocent Orok disclosed that the event is billed to be the gathering of who is who in the maritime industry and even from allied transport and logistics chain sub-sectors.

The event 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 has graciously accepted to chair the occasion.

Mr Orok said that the event would 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 Niche Newspaper who is the Editor of the magazine.

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

He further noted that as the Nigerian maritime is seen as the unharnessed low hanging fruits for the President Mohammadu Buhari administration’s economy diversification vision away from its current state where oil & gas which is a diminishing asset is the mainstay of the economy, the hands of all stakeholders must be on deck to ensure that the maritime sector starts live up to its potentials.