AMJON 2022: Nigeria must meet global standards to realise Blue Economy potentials -Stakeholders

https://themomentng.com/2022/12/20/amjon-2022-nigeria-must-meet-global-standards-to-realise-blue-economy-potentials-stakeholders/


…As NSML, NPA, NIWA, NDLEA, Webb Fontaine, others bag AMJON Excellence Awards

The 2022 AMJON Conference and Awards came to a vintage climax on Monday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja as industry leaders chat the way forward in paper presentations as deserving awardees were celebrated.

Setting the ball rolling was one of the awardees, the MD, MNLG, Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed who praised AMJON for organising such big a forum of egg-heads in the industry to proffer solutions on ‘Maximising the Blue Economy through Automation’.

According to him, 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.

The Blue Economy, he said has to 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.

In a paper presented by the 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.

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.

NSC Executive Secretary Hon. Emmanuel Jime was represented at the AMJON Conference by Mr. Sam Anyanwu director corporate communication and strategy.

One of the highlights of the conference was an award presented to one of 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.

The highpoint of the conference was presentation of AMJON Excellence Award to 14 deserving industry leaders.

On Nigeria’s Water transportation, the MD of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu who 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 are meaningless and stopped in Nigeria.

He said NIWA’s activities over the years had created a leeway towards bringing products to the Onitsha Port through barges and wants Nigerians to know that emphasis on conveying products through the roads to cities connected to riverines will soon be a thing of the past.

Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu who was represented by his media adviser, Mr Ismail Aniemu, in his goodwill message thanked AMJON his transformational efforts at MOWCA. He wished the association well.

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 had 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.

He disclosed that all ports in Nigeria are going through reconstruction and concessions aimed at sustaining and incorporating the private sector to further sustain the 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 who was represented at the event by Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, director of special duties of NIMASA. He extolled AMJON for keeping the theme of blue economy in the front burner of national discuss.

He also urged all sectors to keep fine tuning the blue economy to engender seamless implementation.

AMJON’s 14 deserving awardees are Hon Emmanuel Jime executive secretary /CEO of Nigeria Shippers Council NSC.

In recognition of his pragmatic leadership and contributions to the maritime industry and Nigeria at large, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the award of Pragmatic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.

Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA): For his transformational leadership at the NPA, the Nigeria maritime industry and the economy at large, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the ” Excellent Leadership Award 2022.

Chief Henry Njoku Vice Chairman CRFFN Governing Board: For his professional and leadership qualities, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) conferred on him the Excellent Maritime Personality Leadership Award 2022.

Chief Dr. George Moghalu, Managing Director National inland Waterways Authority (NIWA): For his sterling leadership and contributions to the Nigeria economy and humanity, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) honours him with the Dynamic Public Servant Leadership Award 2022.

Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA): The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in recognition of his numerous contributions to the development of the maritime industry, Nigeria and humanity in general, honours him with the Dynamic Maritime Leadership Award 2022.

Mr. Babatope Fajimirokun aka Simtop National President, WABOTAN:
For his dogged and professional prowess to liberate and make the waterways transportation business in Nigeria a booming business, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) confers on with the award of Nigeria Waterways Transportation Personality of the Year Award 2022.

Comptroller Al-Bashir Hamisu Customs FOU Zone B: In recognition of his efforts in revenue generation and anti-smuggling activities in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), honours you with the Excellence in Service Award 2022.

Lagos National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA): For your great and developmental strides in the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON),.

Mr. Roland Ekama Publisher Daily Focus News Online Nigeria:
In recognition of his contributions to news value contents and national development of journalism. AMJON honours him as the Most Industrious Personally Award in 2022.

Mr Ismail Aniemu, Publisher, Journal Magazine and Journal Ng Online:
In recognition of his contributions to the development and growth of upcoming media practitioners and exemplary leadership roles to the development of the maritime industry through outstanding news reportage. AMJON honours him as pioneer president of the association with Maritime Media Leader of the year 2022.

Dr Abdulkadir Ahmed, Managing Director, NLNG Shipping Management Ltd (NSML):
In recognition of his efforts in unquantifiable philanthropic feats and unparalleled seafaring services in Nigeria, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), confers the award of anti drugs enforcement in Nigeria.

Brig Gen Buba Marwa (rtd), Chairman NDLEA:
In recognition of his unrelenting and exceptional feats in fighting the menace of drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria, the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) confers on the Award of Excellence for Anti Drug Enforcement in Nigeria.

Engr. Sarat Braimah administration has brought so many innovations to bear at the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, which has in turn increased the stakeholders confidence in waterways transportation in the Lagos axis.

In fact, at Lagos NIWA is the heart of interpretating and promoting NIWA activities in Nigeria.

It was based on these great strides and development in the Lagos Area Office of NIWA, the Association of Maritme Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in its 2022 Annual Conference and Awards held on Monday 19th December 2022, gave the Lagos NIWA office award 2022 for the Most outstanding Area office in Nigeria.