After a decade of nurturing young maritime professionals in Lagos, Platforms Communications is taking its Maritime Career Mentorship Programme (M-CAMP) to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in a strategic expansion of its drive to develop the next generation of maritime industry leaders.
The two-day programme, scheduled for November 19 and 20, 2026, at the Amphitheatre Hall of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, marks a significant milestone in the initiative’s 10-year journey, during which it has successfully hosted 15 editions in Lagos, Western Nigeria.
Through M-CAMP, Platforms Communications has consistently provided a platform for industry leaders and experienced professionals to share knowledge, practical insights and career guidance with young people seeking opportunities in the maritime sector.
The Port Harcourt edition is designed to extend this mentorship opportunity to students, cadets, officers and young professionals in the Southern and Eastern regions, strengthening the industry’s talent pipeline and succession planning efforts.
Two Days of Industry Mentorship
The first day, Thursday, November 19, will focus on cadets, officers and young seafarers, with discussions centred on career opportunities, professional certification, maritime safety, shipboard security and the challenges facing Nigerian seafarers.
The programme, which begins at 10 a.m., will feature some of the country’s leading maritime authorities and industry practitioners.
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, will deliver a presentation on “Overview of Maritime Career Paths, Stages, Requirements, Certifications and Opportunities for Seafaring Students in Nigeria”.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, will speak on “Understanding Practical Applications of Security and Safety Procedures in Nigerian Seaports and Terminals”.
Chairman of Starzs Investments Company Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, will examine the preference of foreign seafarers and cadets over their Nigerian counterparts, exploring the factors behind the industry’s recruitment practices.
Also speaking on the first day will be the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, who will address Nigeria’s territorial waters and the security and safety challenges confronting seafarers onboard vessels.
The Executive Director Operations & Technical at Tantita Security Services Ltd, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, will speak on “Career at Sea in the 21st Century Maritime Sector: Understanding New Dynamics Shaping the Industry’s Future”.
The second day, Friday, November 20, will focus on maritime commercial and arts students, opening discussions on the business, regulatory, legal and logistics dimensions of the maritime industry.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the sessions will feature Dr. Ofurumazi Righteousness, a lecturer at the Nigerian Maritime University, who will discuss career paths and prospects for maritime commercial students in Nigeria.
Dantsoho will also address participants on “Understanding Ports and Terminal Management Systems and Operations in Nigeria”.
The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, will provide insights into becoming a successful freight forwarder and customs agent in Nigeria.
President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, will share practical tips on establishing and running a successful transport and logistics company.
The President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), Chief Mike Igbokwe, will examine maritime laws, policies and regulations, with emphasis on their practical applications in Nigeria.
Universities, Maritime Academies Expected
Special guests of honour expected at the programme include the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi; Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Dr Kelvin Okonna; Director of Elkins Marine Training International (EMTI), Mr Hufy Nwaneri; and the chief executives of Charkin Maritime Academy, Tolmann Allied Services Limited and Matral Maritime Training Centre.
Several maritime institutions and tertiary establishments have also been invited, including the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron; Joe Marine Institute; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Wonders International Maritime Academy; Flight Marine Safety Academy; Globa Maritime Academy; Rivers State University; and College of Maritime Studies, Abia State Polytechnic.
Others are Delta State Maritime Polytechnic; Nigerian Maritime University; Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; Southern Maritime Academy; Seatrade Maritime Academy; Institute of Maritime Studies, Niger Delta University; and the Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, Akwa Ibom State University.
A Decade of Building Maritime Talent
The relocation of M-CAMP to Port Harcourt represents more than geographical expansion. It reinforces the importance of structured mentorship, knowledge transfer and deliberate succession planning in an industry that requires a steady pipeline of skilled and competent professionals.
In 10 years, Platforms Communications has organised 15 editions of the initiative, bringing industry leaders closer to young people and exposing aspiring maritime professionals to the realities, demands and opportunities of careers across the sector.
The programme’s organisers believe that sustained engagement between experienced professionals and emerging talents is essential to addressing skills gaps, strengthening local capacity and improving Nigerian participation in the maritime industry.
As the initiative enters a new phase, Platforms Communications is also calling on maritime agencies, organisations and private-sector operators to partner with the programme through sponsorship and other forms of institutional support to ensure its sustainability and wider reach.
With its Port Harcourt debut, M-CAMP is extending its decade-long commitment to developing maritime talent beyond Lagos, taking its mentorship vision to a new generation of aspiring industry professionals.
Ten years, 15 editions and a new destination: M-CAMP is sailing into Port Harcourt with the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry in focus.