The winner of the Nigerian Maritime Ambassadors (NIMA), an industry-based Reality TV, season two, Ogunyemi Oluwajoba Adebisi, is set to champion a one-year campaign on green port concept, youth’s involvement in blue economy and collaboration with maritime agencies to execute cleaner ocean projects.
The Director of the NIMA Reality TV Show and Chief Executive of Platforms Communications, Sylvanus Obasi, stated this during the prize presentation ceremony held for the winner and runners-up of the maritime talent optima edition at the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIMA), Lagos area office.
He revealed that Adebisi would render service to the maritime sector during his one year reign within which he would execute three projects already earmarked for him as the Nigerian Maritime Ambassador for 2023/2024.
According to Obasi, the office of the NIMA winner is very crucial and strategic to the scheme of things in the overall vision and mission of the show. He said to achieve the task ahead and sustain the growth of NIMA in line with its aims and objectives; the winner is to undertake the following specified pet-projects as functions and responsibilities statutory to the office as Nigerian Maritime Ambassador within a one year service reign.
Obasi said the project on youth involvement in blue economy would have the winner visiting tertiary institutions, hosting and attending youth enlightenment seminars or fora aimed at creating awareness for the nation’s youths to participate in blue economy.
He said the other projects include collaboration with relevant maritime government agencies and organisations such as Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), NIWA and others to execute a pet project called Cleaner Ocean Campaign (COC).
Obasi said the COC project focuses on regular cleaning of jetties, beaches and other marine environments, while also creating awareness to riverine communities on the dangers of marine pollution and litter.
He also noted that the green port concept is aimed at promoting eco-friendly ports environment through campaigns for reduction of noise, emissions and use of fossil fuel in ports and terminals
Obasi said it also includes creating awareness to encourage planting of flower trees within ports and terminals, which guarantees a sustainable eco-friendly maritime work environment.
Adebisi, also known with the show name, Demigod, won N10 million worth of deals comprising a car, cash prize, media tours and promotion, including a one-year endorsement deal as Nigerian Maritime Ambassador 2023-2024.
Also speaking, the former Director General of NIMASA, Temisan Omatseye, noted that the country’s maritime sector is vast with great potential, adding that the participation and contributions of the youths are truly needed to fully harness and maximise the potential and vast opportunities in the sector.
The Area Manager, Lagos Area Office of NIWA, Mrs. Sarat Braimoh congratulated Adebisi and prayed that God would guide and grant him successful reign as Nigeria Maritime Ambassador, while pledging NIWA’s continuous support.
