BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
Perhaps, it was the largest and loudest non political ovation witnessed in the ports and maritime industry, in the last two years, it was huge enough to attract the crème-de-la-crème of the industry, spilling over with dignitaries from the labour movement, political and diplomatic world.
Chief Host of the Event, Prince Shittu presenting the Award to Jamoh, as Beks and others watches
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For a long time to come, it may well be the biggest award ceremony with the finest professional touch, combining the allure of intellectual splendor with the rainbow of poetic ecstasy.
The coterie of entertainers comprise of individual standup comedians, musical artistes, DJs and a one-man cerebral, ace compeer with the greatest possible entertainment gift and with a holding grip on the audience, making ribs cracking jokes with utmost intellectual nimbleness, not minding his otherwise, huge physique.
At the centre of attraction is the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, whose investiture as the Maritime Man of The Year 2023 was taking place.
No sooner he waltzed into the hall with his delectable wife, Hajia Zulai, he went from table to table, shaking hands with guests and greeting everyone with egalitarian nobility and social grace.
After all the razzmatazz of affability, adulation and torrent of positive goodwill messages attesting to his cerebral leadership disposition and great works he has done to deserve the award, Jamoh got on the podium when it was time to speak, and speaking, revealed yet again, bits of his stunning leadership quality.
After thanking everyone for their kind words and for affirming his credential as one CEO with the foremost impact on the industry growth, adjusting the mic, the DG NIMASA bellowed saying that there is still work to be done.
He explained that despite the significant progress made in mapping and exploring the potentials of the blue economy, Nigeria is yet to achieve the aggregate target, noting “there is still more to be done to get to the Promised Land.”
He was grateful that whereas the industry found him the most committed, hardworking CEO, where admirers, critics as well as associates found the opportunity to aggregate their positive thoughts about his stewardship and portrayed him as the most dynamic leader in the maritime sector in recent years, the celebrant nonetheless made it clear that there is still work to be done.
“I want to sincerely thank every one of you for being part of this ceremony, l am grateful for your kind words of encouragement and acknowledgement over my humble contributions to the maritime sector.
“There is still a lot of things undone, we are yet to get to the promise land as far as maritime industry is concerned, what we have is just building the foundation. The fact is that we have seen some prospects in where we are going to.
“Our maritime and the blue economy is such a huge market and l am glad that we have laid the foundation which is critical.”
Giving his welcome address, the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Elder Asu Beks, publisher of Shipping World Magazine and organizer of the award described the DG NIMASA as a pathfinder and technocrat with passion for the development of the blue economy and maritime domain.
He said, “Today, we gather to celebrate a cerebral technocrat, a man who arguably came ahead of his time. Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh who we are celebrating today in all honesty is face of a new Nigeria. In the last three years since the mantle of leadership fell on him as helmsman of Nigeria’s apex Maritime regulatory agency, Dr. Jamoh has left no one in doubt that he is not here only to change the face of Nigeria’s Maritime domain, but to also stamp Nigeria’s name in the comity of Maritime nations as a critical stakeholder.”
Elder Beks said Jamoh designed the tripod of Security, Safety and Shipping Development, fondly known as the 3-S kit to broaden the impact of growth with the highest possible gainful trajectory.
“Jamoh made no ambiguity over the fact that he was going to prioritize these three critical areas which also represent the core mandate of NIMASA. It therefore did not take long before this commitment became manifest.
“One of his major accomplishments was ridding the Nigerian maritime space of criminality for which he has received a lot of commendation including the IMO. Dr. Kitack Lim, the then Secretary General of the IMO had penned a letter to Jamoh commending him for turning around the near pariah status which the Nigerian Maritime space and indeed the Gulf of Guinea had become.
“This achievements can be better appreciated when viewed against the background that in the preceding years, hardly did a day go by without an incidence of piracy, sea robbery and kidnapping for ransom, which had led to insurers to charge ‘war risk premium’ on Nigeria bound cargo. But this dispensation, Nigeria has gone more than a year without a single incidence.”
He continued: “Using the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project, Jamoh has successfully reduced the incidence of piracy, kidnapping, armed robbery at sea and other such incidences to the barest minimum. It is on record that for the first time in many years, Nigeria did not record any piracy incident for more than one calendar year since March 2022.
“The Deep Blue Project, a comprehensive approach to tackling maritime insecurity combines technology, water, air and land arsenals with trained professionals on a round the clock basis to ensure that the success achieved so far is sustained . Platforms have also been provided to enhance flag administration and Port State Control as well as effective enforcement of relevant maritime conventions and protocols.”
The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Uba Sani also described Jamoh as one of the country’s leading maritime expert who believe in the overall gains through pragmatic, short-medium-long term approach.
The Governor who was represented by Senator Lawal Aliyu, described Jamoh the foremost maritime expert from Kaduna State that has given so much to the service of fatherland.
“Nigeria has seen the value in Dr Bashir Jamoh and this was why he was conferred with the National Award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He is also a holder of many several chieftaincy titles across Nigeria including Batona of Akure.
“He is one of the foremost maritime experts we have in Nigeria and Kaduna State is very proud of him. The Blue Economy he is marshaling out is one that is going to benefit the whole nation greatly” he said
Also speaking, the Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, represented by a Director in the Ministry, Hon Babatunde Bombata, congratulated the NIMASA DG for his selection as the Maritime Man of The Year 2023.
It is instructive that Oyetola said the award was an indication that Jamoh has significantly delivered on his assignment which is to drive the progress of the marine and blue economy.
On his part, President General of the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju described Dr Jamoh as a proactive leader who does not promise and fail, and a promoter of the welfare of maritime workers.
“The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria is proud of you and will continue to celebrate you. You are a man of integrity and I want to use this medium to tell everyone that you are now a senior member of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria”, the labour leader said.
Frontline shipping magnate and Chairman of Starz Maritime Engineering Group, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun said Jamoh has remained focus and made reasonable contributions to the marine economy.
“I have been one of Jamoh’s major critics, but the truth is that the sector is very dynamic and he has made efforts. Jamoh is a man of the people, he became the DG of NIMASA under difficult circumstances and he needed to build up trust which he has done; and is also taking the opportunity to move the agency to its present height. I join all others to felicitate with him on this recognition”.
Also congratulating Jamoh, a staff of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO) Phillip Heyl note that the DG NIMASA has done so much to promote the reputation of Nigeria than anyone else he can of; saying Jamoh’s relentless media campaign to promoting his country’s maritime would earned him the ownership of a television station, if it were in the US.
“He is a fantastic representation of Nigeria who has done more for the reputation of Nigeria in the maritime world more than anyone in a long time”
Patricia Davies of the British High Commission who oversees Maritime security says that “We have worked very closely with NIMASA and Dr. Jamoh and we want to thank him for his cooperation over the years”.
Also, a member of the British High Commission that specialize in IMO Partnership, Patricia Davies while congratulating Jamoh said her team has worked closely with the NIMASA DG, that he is a knowledgeable, dependable and hard working ally.
It is instructive that the DG NIMASA while dedicating the award to the Executive Management and all staff of NIMASA, also especially acknowledged the role Alhaji Muniru Jafar in his sojourn in the nation’s maritime domain, saying Jafar brought him to the industry from Kaduna where he worked previously in a produce agency.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion includes former National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent, ANLCA, and Chairman of Skelas Group, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who was the Chief Host; Bonded Warehouse Operator and ANLCA Board Chairman, Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha; Hajia Lami Tumaka; Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN; Hajia Bola Muse; Mrs Ify Akerele; Barr. Emeka Akabogu; Capt Taiwo Akinpelumi; Mr Emmanuel Maiguwa, Bunmi Olumekun; Chairman of Ports Consultative, Bolaji Sunola; Rollens McFoy, EDs of NIMASA, amongst others.