Nigerian maritime youths, under the auspices of the Annual Maritime Students and Youth (AMSAY) Conference, are set to honour two late icons of the nation’s maritime sector, Otunba Kunle Folarin and Hon. Dr. Chris Asoluka, with posthumous awards in recognition of their enduring contributions to capacity building and youth development.
The honours will be conferred at the 10th edition of the AMSAY Conference, scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 10, 2026, as part of activities marking the conference’s 10th anniversary.
According to Platforms Communications, organisers of the event, the awards acknowledge the duo’s lifetime commitment to mentorship, as well as their pivotal roles in advancing Nigerian maritime students and young professionals through sustained capacity-building initiatives.
Late Asoluka, former Chairman of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Lekki, will be honoured as Maritime Most Profound Eloquent Speaker, while late Folarin, former Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), will be recognised as Nigerian Maritime Encyclopedia.
Speaking ahead of the event, AMSAY Convener, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, noted that both men played significant roles in the formative years of the conference and deserve to be honoured by the very platform they helped nurture.
“I recall that at the maiden edition in 2016, Dr. Asoluka delivered the lead paper titled ‘How Nations Develop Their Maritime Sector,’ while Otunba Folarin presented on ‘A New National Carrier In The Offing: Lessons From The Rise and Fall of NNSL”, Obasi said.
He added that their contributions extended to subsequent editions, particularly in 2018, when Asoluka delivered another lead paper titled ‘The Local Content Act, The Cabotage Act and Everything In-Between: How Beneficial To Nigerian Youth?’ while Otunba Folarin inspired participants with a keynote address as Father of the Day.
Beyond their intellectual contributions, Obasi emphasised that both maritime leaders were instrumental to the conference’s early success, offering strategic guidance, sharing valuable insights, and leveraging their networks to strengthen the initiative in its formative years.
Folarin passed away on November 8, 2022, a few weeks before his 82nd birthday. He served as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council and the National Seafarers Welfare Board.
Asoluka, a respected development and strategy consultant (FIMC) with significant contributions across Nigeria’s economic and political landscape, particularly in maritime policy development died on May 10, 2025, at the age of 70.
The posthumous awards, to be presented by Platforms Communications, are expected to reinforce their enduring legacies and inspire a new generation of maritime professionals to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Over the years, the AMSAY Conference has evolved into a leading platform for mentoring and engaging young maritime professionals committed to advancing the sector.
The 10th anniversary edition is expected to attract participants from across the industry.