NIMASA DG Mobereola, Ramalan, Dakuku, Dosunmu, Others Mourn Late Ferdinand Agu
LATE FERDINAND AGU
The passage of the former Director General of the National defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA), now known as the
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Architect Ferdinand Agu, has thrown top maritime industry stakeholders into deep mourning.
Among those who have reacted over the sad occurrence last week were the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, former DGs of the apex maritime agency and other industry stakeholders.
Mobereola in a press statement described the death of Architect Agu, as a rude shock.
Reacting to Agu’s sudden death weekend, the NIMASA DG said, “ it is a significant loss to Nigeria, the maritime community, and NIMASA in particular”.
The DG added, “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Arc. Ferdinand Agu, a former Director General of NMA. He left an indelible impression on me within the short time we shared during my first stakeholder engagement just last month. I had hoped to engage him more often, to tap into his wealth of experience for the collective interest of every Nigerian. Alas, death has denied us this privilege. Agu’s legacy of dedication and excellence will continue to inspire us all. We will miss his wisdom, kindness, and unwavering dedication to improving our maritime industry. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace”.
Similarly, Alhaji Dr Ahmed Tijjani Ramalan, the Pioneer Board Chairman of NIMASA, also said he received with a rude shock the sad news of the sudden tragic death of Agu.
In a statement on Saturday, Ramalan lamented that “Nigerian Maritime Administration under a new leadership could not tap or harness the enormous resource reservoir in Ferdinand Agu before he passed on”.
Ramalan said in the statement, “Ferdinand Agu was a patriot, a Pan-Nigeria and a leading light in the affairs of men women in the Nigerian Maritime World
“The late Ferdinand Agu former DG of NMA passed almost 30 Days after the NIMASA Sponsored Stakeholders Engagement to the usher in the New NIMASA Director General Dr Dayo Moberiola and his Executive Directors
I sat next to Ferdi during the Event for over Hours Brainstorming how to Support the new Executive Management of NIMASA in all Areas of their Regulatory Mandates
“In his lifetime, this iconic and legendary Nigerian Maritime Czar had and still has friends spread across all the geo- political zones and divides of Nigeria.
“He was a Nationalist and father, friend, brother and benefactor to many Nigerians too numerous to count in this Great Sector
“While we pray that the Almighty God will grant the soul of Architect Ferdinand Agu an eternal rest in his bosom, we urge the bereaved to accept with serenity the things we cannot change.”
The former DG of NIMASA , Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who said he was sad over the news wrote that Agu loved the maritime industry as much as he loved Nigeria.
Dakuku said, “When I arrived at NIMASA in March 2016 and started preaching the gospel of reforms and reputational restoration, the director – level cadre of the agency threw only one challenge at me:equal or surpass the record of a certain Arc. Ferdinald Agu,who had earlier served as DG/ CEO of the predecessor organisation to NIMASA, NMA.
“That challenge set the stage for and the tone of my future engagements in the agency. First, who is this man who has become a source of leadership reference in NIMASA? It was evident to all that we have only ever had very few of these agency leaders as role models and sources of inspiration for leadership. Fewer have been superlative and exceptional .Therefore, it became imperative to extract the core elements of Arc Agu’s outstanding and qualitative performance prior to, during, and following his stay at NIMASA. I reached out to him, and what I found challenged me even more. Here was a man of intellect , versatile , confidant yet humble, and desirous to assist . I immediately bonded with him, and he became my unofficial adviser-in-chief. Like that proverbial eagle, Arc Ferdi Agu was exceptionally and irreversibly visionary, and quite aware of his capacity to contribute to the betterment of his society . He was equally skilled at translating his vision in any sector to reality. I found him to be administratively savvy, an extremely well-organized professional who paid close attention to even the smallest details. Despite his imposing height and stature , he exuded confidence and fearlessness while remaining incredibly humble. In addition to having faith in himself, he frequently exhorts others to have faith in their own abilities and the beauty of their aspirations, and he was always ready to offer his intellect and experience to help you succeed.
“Arc Agu loved the maritime industry as much as he loved Nigeria . His knowledge of the industry was nearly encyclopaedic . His passion for the country and its growth was second to none that I have seen around . He was of Igbo parentage, but his network of friends came from every nook and cranny of Nigeria, and even he could not explain how he built that network . I intentionally chose not to talk of my own personal encounters with him, as each occasion turned out to a lesson on patriotism and leading when everything seemed to go south . Arc Ferdi Agu was a rare human being , a gift to Nigeria that was highly underutilized ,a patriot and most importantly, my elder brother and source of inspiration . Arc Agu was the only Ferdi Agu that could be . Goodbye our pathfinder and intellectual powerhouse”.
In his reaction, another former DG of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, described Agu as “ friend , a brother, a technocrat a leader and a pan Nigerian”.
Praying to God to grant him infinite mercy and accept his gentle soul, Dosunmu wrote:
“I did not even know what to say and how to react to the painful and untimely passing of a friend , a brother, a Technocrat a leader and a pan Nigerian in the person of Arc Ferdinand Agu ,former DG NMA . It was too shocking for me given the fact that he was full of life just a month ago when we met at the NIMASA programme to usher in Dr Dayo Mobereola in Eko Hotel . We sat together exchanging views about our country and the state of the maritime industry After the programme, he invited Omatseye and myself to his room at the Signatures to discuss issues of concern to former DGs .We had extensive discussions on how we can always avail NIMASA mgt with the benefit of our experience whenever called upon .We also discuss about the welfare of former DGs vis -a- vis what obtains in other grade ‘A’ MDAs. He provided leadership and further earned my admiration the way he conducted the meeting . I was assigned to follow up our resolutions with the current management and he said if i needed his support i should not hesitate to let him know . We left and he saw us to the ground floor . An amazing personality , down to earth and always ready to proffer solution to problems . I did not know that would be the last time i will be seeing Ferdinand .We built a very friendly relationship . He always call me Ade and i call him DG Emeritus . Such was our relationship . May God in His infinite mercy accept his gentle soul and grant his family and all of us the fortitude to bear this huge loss . Adieu, Ferdinand Agu ….. “
Similarly, a maritime lawyer and expert, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, described late Agu as an exceptional maritime administrator.
Akabogu wrote: “Architect Ferdinand Agu was a man of high intellect. I greatly admired him because he combined his prodigious intellect with delicious articulation and impressive gravitas. Beyond these, he had a hands-on approach to his job and set about tasks with commitment and detail.
“I distinctly remember his first interaction with the maritime industry after his appointment at a stakeholder interactive session in 2001. He was quiet all through the event, listening intently and taking notes. When eventually he took the podium, it was evident the country’s maritime administration had not beheld such a class act. He flawlessly captured the essence of all interventions, seducing the words to deliver hope in great doses of audial pleasure.
My first full engagement with him was shortly after in Enugu, when the then Minister of Transport, the Late Ojo Maduekwe hosted a Ministerial Retreat to harness ideas for a 25-year Nigeria Transport Masterplan. At the end of proceedings, a number of us were tasked with crafting the retreat resolutions, with Ferdinand Agu as team lead. He ensured each word in each resolution was carefully considered and deliberately included. We worked till 3am!
It was under his leadership at NMA that the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act was enacted. In 2005 he became the first DG of NMA to have his tenure renewed. I visited him to discuss a proposal and waited for hours to see him. When I was ushered into his office at past 7pm, he was still full of energy, disarming me and my anger with his laser-focused interest in the business that brought me. As he let off steam with his Cuban cigar, he thoroughly interrogated the details of my proposal and recommended relevant changes.
“On 9 May when Dr. Dayo Mobereola hosted his inaugural stakeholder interaction with the industry as DG of NIMASA, Ferdinand Agu made deliberate effort to reach me after my keynote presentation. He commended my delivery but noted that there are some points we need to further review. His message with his email address for me to send my presentation is the last I have from him.
“A great Nigerian, an intellectual heavyweight and an icon in maritime administration is gone. He was still young – I believe about 65 – with a lot to offer the nation. May God in His Infinite Mercy grant Architect Ferdinand Agu eternal rest, and comfort his family at this time”.
The former Director, Administration, NIMASA, Alhaji Awwalu Makarfi, also reacted to the sad news, saying his “ legacy of excellence and care will undoubtedly forever remain in our hearts”..
He added, “In memory of a remarkable leader lost too soon.
“A boss in his own class, like no other …
In wisdom and grace, he shone so bright.
His legacy of excellence and care will undoubtedly forever remain in our hearts.
Though Ferdinand may be gone, his spirit lives on.
Will always be fondly remembered with gratitude and love … as our brilliant, respectful, and confident boss.
REST IN PEACE, BROTHER !!”
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