‘Why FG must pay close attention to shipping sector’

The Federal Government has been urged to pay a closer attention to the revival of the ailing maritime sector, in its quest to urgently survive the prevailing economic recession and further boost the nation’s economy.

The Chief Executive Officer, Ships & Ports Communication Company, Bolaji Akinola, who made this call during the ninth edition of the yearly Shipping Career Summit, organised by his company at the Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, urged the participants to consider positioning themselves to take advantage of numerous opportunities that abound in the maritime sector.

He said: “The maritime sector is where every attention should now be focused. Those who rule the seas rule the world. If we truly desire to a quickly end recession and emerge among leading economies of the world, we must pay closer attention to our maritime sector.

“Nigeria’s maritime sector is endowed with enormous natural resources, which provide great potentials and opportunities necessary to achieve sustainable growth and development,” he said.

Akinola said with Nigeria’s vast coastline measuring about 850 kilometres and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of well over 300,000 square kilometres; 3,000 kilometres of navigable inland waterways; six major seaports, 11 oil terminals, and over 170 private jetties; rewarding careers await young Nigerians in various segments of the maritime industry.

According to him, the yearly Shipping Career Summit was created to enlighten young Nigerians on the various careers and investment opportunities that abound in the sector.

He said the summit has been held in various cities of the country since inception in 2006 including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Ilorin, Abeokuta, Yenagoa, Makurdi and Warri.

The participating students of Igbobi College however showed a keen interest in the programme as experts take them through topical issues in the sector and exposed them to technical ways of becoming a clearing agent, maritime lawyer and a customs broker among others.

A renowned Master Mariner and former President of the Nigerian
Association of Master Mariner (NAMM), Captain Adewale Ishola gave the steps on ‘How to Develop a Career at Sea’, handled

President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, spoke on the topic: ‘How to Become a Customs Broker” while other proffessionals such as Deputy Director Public Relations of Nigeria Shippers Council, Mr. Ignatius Nweke, A lawyer, representing Akabogu & Associates, Mr. Emeka Akabogu, and Oliver Omajuwa of Sifax Group, took them on other important areas of shipping career.