The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN has announced a shift in the date of its inaugural Maran Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) earlier scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 21 in Lagos.
The maiden Annual Lecture themed: “Maritime Security: Emerging Threats and Actionable Steps” is targeted at proffering long-term, sustainable solutions and will now hold on Wednesday 29, 2023 at Rockview Hotel Apapa, Lagos by 9 am.
President of MARAN, Godfrey Bivbere, in a statement said that the 2023 MAMAL would effectively address maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region and protect seafaring and fishing communities in the affected countries.
MARAN, as the foremost umbrella body of journalists covering the Nigerian maritime sector, has identified and commends the collaborative initiatives and efforts of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other maritime agencies which led to a significant reduction in piracy incidents in Nigerian waters and the GoG throughout 2022.
To a large extent, the establishment of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum for the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE) has enabled stakeholders within and outside the region to connect and discuss frequently how best to tackle piracy in the area and this had yielded verifiable results.
Bivbere noted that the Special Guest of Honour is Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, while the keynote Speaker is the Director General of NIMASA, Doctor Bashir Jamoh.
Other speakers will include former NIMASA Director General, Barrister Temisan Omatseye; President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Alhaji Aminu Umar; President, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa; and Captain Waredi Eniosuo.
Stakeholders in the maritime sector including Shipowners, NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Navy, Shipping Lines, Terminal Operators, and major seafarers’ organisations are all expected to grace this epoch-making event.
Other dignitaries according to Bivbere also expected at the event include Chief Isaac Jolapamo, President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Prince Adewale Adeyunju, former Minister and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Worldwide Shipping, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho, Chairman of Starz Group, Greg Ogbeifun, the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA), Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) and all other relevant stakeholders.