Shippers’ Council Restates Commitment to Promoting Efficiency, Transparency, Competitiveness, Says Maritime Sector Requires Vibrant Media
Dr. Emeka Akabogu SAN (Chairman of the Occasion) and Mr Moses Abere (who represented the NSC CEO) and Mr Sesan Onilemo, CEO of First Mediacon Network Limited during the award presentation on the occasion...
• As Maritime Journalist unveils Centre for Maritime Media & Capacity Devt
By Francis Ugwoke
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Dr. Pius Akutah, has restated the commitment of the agency in promoting efficiency, transparency and competitiveness in the ports.
Akutah said that its efforts as the ports economic regulator have been in ensuring that the nation’s seaports achieve glaring efficiency as in other global ports.
Akutah pointed out that as the ports economic regulator, the NSC considers the media as essential partners in informing stakeholders, shaping public understanding, and strengthening accountability.
Speaking on the occasion of the Annual Seminar For Maritime Journalists 2025 & Launching Of Centre For Maritime Media &Capacity Development, the NSC CEO who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Director, Special Duties, Mr Moses Abere, recalled that over the years, maritime journalists have worked closely with regulators, operators, policymakers, and stakeholders to illuminate the challenges and opportunities of the sector.
According to him, the works of maritime journalists have contributed to greater transparency, improved public understanding, and stronger accountability within our maritime landscape.
He added, “The Nigerian Shippers’ Council, in particular, under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, has benefitted from your professionalism and sustained coverage of our regulatory interventions, reforms, and collaborative efforts to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the port environment.
“This decade-long journey affirms a simple truth: no maritime sector can advance without a strong, knowledgeable, and committed media community.
“As the maritime sector grows more complex; driven by digitalization, new trade realities, regulatory reforms, and global logistical shifts, journalism within this space must evolve accordingly”.
Akutah opined that to strengthen maritime journalism for the future requires the following:
1. Deeper sectorial knowledge which maritime reporting must be anchored in technical accuracy, understanding of global practices, and an appreciation of regulatory frameworks.
2. Digital Preparedness for the future journalist to be equipped to interrogate data, utilize digital tools, and apply emerging technologies such as Al in research, storytelling, and analysis.
3. Ethical Excellence:
Accuracy, balance, and integrity are indispensable. Misinformation in a sensitive sector like maritime can undermine policy, investor confidence, and national economic stability and lastly, Sustained Collaboration with Regulators”.
He congratulated the Chief Executive Officer of First Mediacon Network Limited , Mr Sesan Onilemo, for the initiative and for ensuring the event sees the light of the day.
“At the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, we remain committed to open communication and structured engagement with the media to enhance mutual understanding and sectoral development”, he said.
Onilemo in his welcome address said the organization was grateful that successive CEOs of the Council did not throw the idea of the annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists.
He said, “Over the years, the “Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists” has become a Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the PR Department of the NSC. We are equally deeply grateful to successive heads of the PR Department of the Agency”.
“The “Annual Seminar for Maritime Journalists” has grown to become a baby of the Nigerian maritime industry. This is why every year, we dwell on issues that affect the industry directly, cutting across sub-sectors.
“Each year, we gather like this, to deliberate on issues that are central or germane to the Nigerian maritime industry.
“ Each year, we gather like this, to deliberate on issues that are central or germane to the Nigerian maritime industry”.
The organisers also unveiled the Centre for Maritime Media &Capacity Development. The Advisory Board is made up of eminent personalities .
Onilemo added, “ Journalism is a dynamic profession. Maritime journalists are therefore equally confronted with the need to upscale their knowledge, especially in this era of Artificial Intelligence, digitalization and the social media in general. All of these have combined to put journalists under intense pressure to push out factual details at all times, and also compete and be relevance.
“The Centre for Maritime Media &Capacity Development, is our bold move to bridge this gap and also ensure that maritime journalists, irrespective of how young or old they are on the beat, will remain relevant.
“The Centre is open for partnership with interested corporate stakeholders. Our goal is collaboration for impact. Ultimately, the Nigerian maritime industry will benefit from this initiative”.
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