NNMJ UNITY CONFERENCE WELCOMES SUNMOLA, AKODU, MUKAILA, AZEEZ, OTHER INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS
The Network of Nigeria Maritime Journalists (NNMJ) has announced additional confirmations for its forthcoming Unity Conference, with Chairman of the Nigeria Port Consultative Council (NPCC), Dr Bolaji Sunmola; Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Adewale Akodu; former National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila; and Chief Operations Officer of A-Z Logistics, Dr Mustapha Azeez, among the latest prominent personalities expected at the event.
The new confirmations further strengthen the profile of the conference, which is scheduled to hold on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The gathering is expected to bring together policymakers, heads of maritime agencies, industry executives, legal practitioners, freight forwarders, journalists and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues shaping the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barrister Temisan Omatseye, will chair the conference, while the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour. Renowned maritime lawyer, Barrister Emeka Akabogu, SAN, will deliver the keynote address.
The conference, themed “Seaport Modernisation, Trade Facilitation and Revenue,” will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine government policies, ongoing reforms and measures required to improve operational efficiency and strengthen the maritime sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic development.
Discussions will focus on port modernisation, rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, trade facilitation, ease of doing business, revenue optimisation and strategies for tackling financial leakages across the maritime value chain.
Participants will also explore opportunities for expanding the marine and blue economy, generating employment, improving maritime safety and security, and positioning Nigerian seaports to compete more effectively in the global shipping industry.
Beginning at 11:00 a.m., the conference is expected to attract managing directors of shipping companies, terminal operators, licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, government representatives and other influential industry players.
In a joint statement, NNMJ Chairman, Elder Dele Aderibigbe, and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Jerry Aguigbo, said the conference was designed to encourage constructive engagement, strengthen collaboration among industry stakeholders and generate practical recommendations for addressing challenges in the maritime sector.
They explained that the event would enable participants to assess existing government policies and reforms, identify implementation challenges and develop sustainable strategies for improving port operations, facilitating legitimate trade, increasing government revenue and unlocking the economic opportunities within the maritime industry.
The NNMJ leadership also underscored the importance of maritime journalism in promoting transparency, accountability and informed public discourse, particularly on government policies, regulatory interventions and reforms affecting the marine and blue economy.
They expressed confidence that the conference would deepen stakeholder relationships, encourage meaningful policy engagement and strengthen collective efforts towards building a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime industry.
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