Photo caption: Director, Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Representative of DG NIMASA, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor (3rd from left) and some participants in a photograph at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Lecture at the University of Lagos.
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has reaffirmed that Nigerian youths remain at the heart of the country’s Marine and Blue Economy Policy, stressing that Nigeria’s ambition to become Africa’s Blue Giant will be driven by the younger generation. He stated this in a keynote address at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Lecture at the University of Lagos.
Photo caption: Director, Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and Representative of DG NIMASA, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor (left) receiving a plaque at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Lecture at the University of Lagos.
According to a statement by the Deputy Director, Head, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, the Director-General who was represented by the Director, Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, said the DG commended SIFAX Group for sustaining the initiative over the past decade. He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Blue Economy Agenda is central to economic diversification and that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, has mandated NIMASA to equip young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities to drive the sector.
Photo caption from left: Director, Cabotage, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA; Ms. Gloria Anyasodo, President, Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria (CIoTA), Dr. Segun Obayendo; Dr. Olayinka Agunloye; and Deputy Director, Maritime Guard Command, NIMASA; Dr. Chizoba Anika, during a study visit of the University of Lagos Business School to NIMASA.
Mobereola highlighted key youth-centric initiatives of NIMASA to include, the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), newly introduced Blue Economy Accelerator Initiative, skills acquisition centres located in the six-geopolitical zones and the establishment of Institute of Maritime Studies in some Nigerian universities; describing them as strategic interventions to build capacity, create jobs, and encourage innovation among young Nigerians.
In the same vein, NIMASA engaged doctoral and master’s students from the University of Lagos in an interactive knowledge-sharing session, led by the Director of Cabotage Services, Ms. Gloria Anyasodo.
Photo caption: Group photograph of NIMASA staff and University of Lagos Business School, during a study visit by the University of Lagos Business School to NIMASA.
The session featured presentations on shipping development, maritime logistics, Cabotage implementation and maritime labour regulation. The engagement underscored the value of stronger collaboration between academia and the maritime industry to advance research, build capacity, and develop practical solutions to the evolving challenges of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
