Maritime investors and stakeholders will honour the new Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Mr Leye Ajayi, in a grand reception and lecture organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria.
Ajayi, a maritime journalist and editor at the News Agency of Nigeria, recently emerged as the chairman of the Lagos State Council of the NUJ.
MARAN is an umbrella body of all maritime journalists in Nigeria established in 1988.
According to a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by the General Secretary of MARAN, Mr Dapo Olawuni, the creme-de-la-creme of the Nigerian maritime sector are billed to attend the event under the chairmanship of Prince Olayiwola Shittu, a former president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents.
The event is scheduled to hold at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos on March 25, 2021 by 11.00am prompt.
The theme of the event is ‘National development: The challenges of and the prospects for the proper implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in Nigerian maritime industry’.
Olawuni quoted the President of MARAN, Mr Anya Njoku, as saying, “MARAN is proud of one of its own, Leye Ajayi, who was a bonafide member of the association until his emergence as the Lagos NUJ chairman.
“Mr Ajayi had served MARAN meritoriously at different times and different capacities as secretary-general and later as president. The association is, therefore, planning a grand reception to celebrate his electoral success.”
According to the MARAN scribe, the grand reception and lecture aim to boost the synergy between the maritime press and the maritime public and government parastatals.
The lead paper would be presented by a seasoned journalist and the Editor of the XPRESS Newspaper, Mr Emeka Okoroanyawu, who was one of the founders of MARAN in 1988.
A former General Manager, Lagos Traffic FM, Mr Layinka Adagun, who is a pioneer MARAN member, would also be a panel discussant to enhance the theme’s perspectives.
The special guests of honor expected at the event include the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman; the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, and the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr George Moghalu.
Others are the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Zone ‘A’ Lagos, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho.
The Chief Guests of Honors are the Chairperson of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, Dr Vicki Haastrup, the President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr Adewale Adeyanju, and the immediate past Chairman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, Aare Hakeem Olanrewaju.
Others are President of ANLCA, Mr Tony Nwabunike, and the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr Boniface Aniebonam.
