The Nigerian Navy has harped on effective leadership and competence on the part of its ratings and officers to promote national development.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Olusola Oluwagbire made the call on Wednesday in Calabar at the command's leadership 101 seminar.

Represented by the Chief Staff Officer of the ENC, Rear Admiral Abdul-Rasheed Haruna, the FOC noted that the right leadership is needed for the Navy to discharge it responsibility of protecting the nation's territorial waters.

He said that the seminar is aimed to equip the officers with the skills set that will enable them discharge their responsibilities effectively and efficiently as leaders. 

He said their roles as leaders often entails quick planning as well as making swift and well-informed decisions with available resources under extreme conditions.

"It is against this backdrop, that the theme of this Seminar: “Optimizing Leadership and Operational Readiness for National Prosperity” was conceptualised.

"The objective of the Seminar therefore is to highlight the role of leadership in enhancing our collective preparedness in accomplishing our assigned tasks as a Command that will ultimately enable the Nigerian Navy fulfil its constitutional responsibilities towards ensuring economic prosperity of Nigeria," he stated.

Similarly, Commandant of the Navy War College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, said the seminar can best be appreciated through recognising the relationship that exists between leadership and a secure maritime domain.

He noted that Nigeria’s maritime domain is bedevilled with crimes such as piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping, crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering as well as illegal unreported and unregulated fishing.

He said these crimes have hindered the ability of the country to effectively explore and manage the resources and opportunities in the sector for its economic prosperity, peace and stability as well as for the benefits of neighbouring countries and regions. 

"The common impact of maritime insecurities on the economic livelihood, prosperity, peace and stability of Nigeria both within and the immediate environment brings to fore the initiation of various collective responses and interventions at national and stakeholders’ levels to tackle the menace.

"This Seminar therefore symbolises a strategic collaborative initiative between the Eastern Naval Command and other maritime stakeholders operating within the Command’s Area of Operation.

"It also presents a potent strategy to espouse measures to mitigate the increasing maritime insecurities in the immediate environment in order to enhance economic development of the country.

"It is on this note that the theme of the seminar is considered apt and timely.

"The theme is well thought out to examine the nexus between Nigeria’s maritime security and socio-economic development in the country, with particular focus on leadership and operational readiness of the Eastern Fleet," he stated.

Speaking on the topic: "Purposeful Leadership: Your Role in the Nigerian Navy's Anti-Crude Oil Theft Efforts" Commodore Adesola Ojo said the Navy has the onerous responsibility to safeguard the nation's main source of revenue.

On her part, Dr Ehizofa Odigie-Okpataku, who spoke on the topic: "The Mind of a Leader" challenged the officers to show effective and efficient leadership at all times.

She further charged the personnel to stive to know happenings beyond their immediate environment.

On the other hand, Rear Admiral Bodunrin Raji (Rtd.), while speaking on the topic: "Leadership: My Perspective" shared his experiences while in service and how effective leadership will help the Nigerian Navy combat crimes and criminalities in the nation’s territorial waters.