Ships & Ports boss, Akinola speaks on his PhD

Maritime and corporate communication expert, Bolaji Akinola, has said the key essential for professionals to continually unlock the skills of their respective occupation is to inquire deeper into their general and specific areas of expertise, by engaging in continuous intellectual probe and research.

He explained that such academic and scientific probe alone offers a deeper insight into the frontiers of industry developments, setting new rules and modern skills that drives growth.

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), Prof. Juan Elegido; Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, PAU, Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, OFR; and Dr. Bolaji Akinola during the conferment of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Media and Communication on Akinola at the 17th convocation ceremony of PAU in Lagos.

The Ships & Ports chief executive Officer (CEO) who bagged a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Media and Communication from the Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, last week, maintain that occupational efficiency can only be sustained through regular, rigorous academic and scientific research that offers new and cutting edge skills; and as the sole window that offers continuous industry efficiency.

His words: “My commitment is to lifelong learning. Every day, we commit to learning, growing and developing ourselves so we can add value to our industry, country and the world.

“Expanding our knowledge comes down to diving deeper into our areas of expertise. One commits to learning more and more about one’s industry, and commits to sharpening timeless, applicable skills that help us move forward daily in life.”

Dr. Bolaji Akinola also consults for leading maritime companies within and outside Nigeria in addition to being Co-founder/Director of the Maritime Microfinance Bank Limited, Apapa.  In a statement made available to Pinnacle Time and signed by himself said the PhD degree was conferred on him by the PAU Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council, Mr. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, OFR and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Juan Elegido.

Dr. Akinola’s PhD thesis titled Millennials, Digital Natives and the Future of Print Newspapers, was successfully defended before an online panel on October 29, 2020. The thesis was supervised by Dr. Ikechukwu Obiaya. The examining panel was made up of Dr. Mike Okolo as Chairman, Prof. Akashoru, the external examiner; as well as Dr. Nelson Okorie and Dr. Kingsley Ukaoha, the internal examiners from the School of Media and Communication.

Dr. Bolaji Akinola also holds MBA (Lagos Business School), Masters in Transport Management (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State) and PGD Journalism (Times Journalism Institute, Lagos). He served as the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) and also as the President, Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) from 2011 to 2014.

A consummate communication expert, Dr. Bolaji is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) and Fellow of the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria (CISN); and has won several awards and commendations in the maritime sector.