AMJON President,Calls for Innovation-Driven Training to Make Nigeria Africa’s Maritime Hub.
AMJON President,Calls for Innovation-Driven Training to Make Nigeria Africa’s Maritime Hub.
Lucky Akra
The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) has called for greater investment in innovation and professional training to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading maritime hub.
President of AMJON, Vera Osokpo, made the call in her welcome address at the association’s 2026 Maritime Training Summit held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The summit, themed “The Power of Innovation in a Future Ready Maritime Training Agenda,”brought together stakeholders from government agencies, the private sector, security institutions and the media.
Osokpo said the theme was designed to highlight the need for the maritime sector to adapt to emerging technologies and prepare its workforce for the future.
“If Nigeria must lead in Africa, our maritime sector must take the lead,” she said.
She commended NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) for collaborating with AMJON on the summit, describing the partnership as evidence of the role the private sector can play in developing Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The AMJON president also expressed appreciation to paper presenters and representatives from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), NSML, Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
She equally acknowledged the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy and other security agencies involved in securing the country’s waterways and ports.
According to Osokpo, the summit goes beyond professional training, stressing that maritime journalists have an important responsibility in communicating developments in the sector to the wider public.
“As maritime journalists, we are the bridge between policy and the people. Between the port and the public,” she said.
She added that journalists must understand innovation and emerging developments in the maritime industry to effectively report on them and contribute to public discourse.
“If we do not understand innovation, we cannot report it. If we do not understand the future, we cannot shape the narrative,” Osokpo said.
She urged participants to use the summit to acquire new knowledge, embrace innovation and contribute to shaping a narrative capable of supporting the development of a modern Nigerian maritime industry.
Osokpo also described maritime development as a national issue rather than one limited to industry stakeholders, noting that the efficiency of the country’s ports has wider implications for the Nigerian economy.
“When the ports work, Nigeria works,” she said.The summit also featured recognition of Nigerians who, according to AMJON, have served the country with excellence. Osokpo congratulated the award recipients and said the association was pleased to celebrate their contributions to national development.
She expressed hope that the summit would generate ideas and knowledge capable of advancing Nigeria’s maritime industry.
