The Nigerian Maritime Merit Awards (NMMA) has honoured Godfrey Bivbere as the 2026 Best Maritime Reporter of the Year at its annual award event where outstanding achievements in Nigeria’s maritime industry are celebrated.
Also emerging as lead awal winners at the prestigious gathering were the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, the Director General Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and SIFAX Group Chairman Taiwo Afolabi.
In the media category, Bivbere won the Best Maritime Reporter of the Year award, polling 42 per cent of the 2,403 responses cast. Oluwakemi Dauda followed with 31.1 per cent, while Shulammite Olowofoyeku secured 26.9 per cent.
SIFAX Group dominated the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category, clinching the award with 45.7 per cent of the votes. The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) came second with 33.3 per cent, while Tantita Security Services polled 21 per cent.
The Lifetime Maritime Achievement Award was won by Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group, who garnered 41.2 per cent of the votes. Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Chairman of Skelas Group, followed with 32.2 per cent, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, received 26.7 per cent.
Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was named Maritime Man of the Year after securing 47.7 per cent of the votes. He edged out Adewale Adeyanju, BOT Chairman of MWUN and Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who polled 30.7 per cent, while Taiwo Afolabi received 21.6 per cent.
The Maritime Woman of the Year award went to Mfon Usoro, who polled 36 per cent of the votes. She narrowly defeated Bola Muse with 34.4 per cent, while Faith Zibs Godwin followed with 29.7 per cent.
NIMASA Director General, Dayo Mobereola, was honoured as the Most Impactful Maritime CEO, while Capt. Sunday Umoren emerged as Master Mariner of the Year.
Other winners included Olisa Agbakoba, named Maritime Attorney of the Year, and Sylvanus Eferebo, who clinched the Marine Engineer of the Year award.
In the financial services category, Access Bank emerged as Best Duty Collecting Bank with 38.7 per cent of the votes. United Bank for Africa (UBA) followed with 31.2 per cent, while Fidelity Bank secured 30.2 per cent.
The investiture ceremony for all award recipients is billed to hold on March 30, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said the NMMA was established to inspire excellence and recognise individuals and institutions contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
It continues to serve as a benchmark for excellence, celebrating the diverse players—across media, governance, corporate responsibility, finance, and technical expertise who sustain and advance Nigeria’s maritime industry.
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