Oyetola, Adeniyi, Awolowo, Others to Grace MARAN 2024 Lecture 2024

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and Dr. Segun Awolowo, Secretary of Africa Continental free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) Nigeria, are among the distinguished guests billed to grace the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) 2024.

The event scheduled for November 21, 2024 at the prestigious Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos with the theme, “AfCFTA: Dismantling Trade Barriers, Navigating Regional Trade” is programmed to X-ray the fundamentals of the AfCFTA.

A statement by MARAN informs that this year’s lecture is poised to address pressing issues bogging the troubled new continental trade protocol. Accordingly, pundits, industry players and stakeholders are expected to proffer insights on how to overcome trade barriers and leverage on regional integration for economic growth.

More importantly, the group said the lecture will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue on the challenges and opportunities within the sub region.

According to Godfrey Bivbere, President of MARAN, “The theme for this year’s lecture is timely, especially as Nigeria and other African nations work towards maximizing the potential of AfCFTA.

“We believe this event will provide stakeholders with valuable insights into overcoming trade barriers and capitalizing on the benefits of regional integration.”

The MAMAL 2024 is expected to draw participation from across the maritime, and logistics sectors, offering opportunities for networking, collaboration and strategic discussions, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s position in the regional market.

“As an association committed to advancing the maritime industry, we believe that the MAMAL lecture series plays a critical role in shaping discourse on policy and trade-related matters.

“Our goal is to facilitate dialogue that will contribute to creating a more integrated and competitive regional market through the AfCFTA framework,” Bivbere added.

The event promises to provide participants with valuable insights on navigating the complexities of regional trade, strategies for overcoming challenges, and opportunities for investment and collaboration.

Participants will also gain an understanding of how to position their businesses for success in the evolving trade landscape within the continent.