By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Annual Maritime Students and Youth (AMSAY) Conference has once again proven to be a pivotal event in the maritime industry, providing a platform for students and young professionals to showcase their talents and learn from industry experts.
The 9th edition of the conference, held in Lagos, was a resounding success, with renowned maritime lawyer and Principal Partner of Akabogu Law, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, reiterating the importance of the event.
Dr. Akabogu noted that the AMSAY Conference ranks top amongst maritime events in Nigeria due to its relevance and uniqueness.
He commended the convener, Platforms Communications, for organizing the program for the past nine years, which has given opportunities for maritime students to discover their careers and get the right directions on what they should be doing in their chosen career.
The conference, which had the theme “Automation and Digitalisation of Maritime Operations,” featured special addresses, paper presentations, panel discussions, and awards of academic excellence. Industry experts urged Nigerian maritime students and youths to leverage technology and digitalization to play active roles in the maritime industry.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASO), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, advised students to get themselves prepared to seize the immense opportunities provided for them by the industry.
He emphasized the importance of data in the digital economy and the growing demand for cyber-aware maritime professionals.
Mr. Sunmola also urged students to pay close attention to digital logistics and supply chain coordination, which would equip them with the ability to learn how smart technologies like GPS, RFID, and IoT are integrated into maritime logistics.
He encouraged students to upskill continually, learn beyond their curriculum, and take certification in logistics tech, data science, and maritime ICT.
The President of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA), Mrs. Funke Agbor-SAN, informed the students that the maritime sector was quite broad, including both land-based and shore-based opportunities. She urged them to seize the opportunities presented by the conference to meet and engage with industry stakeholders who had excelled and made names for themselves.
Mrs. Agbor-SAN also encouraged students to make good use of their IT skills and presence in cyberspace, as the theme of the conference was about automation and digitalization.
She advised them not to be shy to approach industry professionals and to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from them.
The immediate past President of WISTA Nigeria, Mrs. Eunice Ezeoke, challenged the students to use the tremendous opportunities and ability inherent in them to conquer the challenges present in today’s maritime industry. She advised them to focus on things that would add value to their lives, opportunities, and future, rather than following frivolities.
The Convener of the AMSAY Conference, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, noted that the conference was a youth-centric maritime industry succession plan program that converged both young and older maritime practitioners.
He stated that the program had given Nigerian maritime students and young maritime professionals a reason to imagine, dream, aspire, and hope for a better future.
The conference also featured the Fola Ojutalayo’s Annual Maritime Speech-Making Competition (FOAMSC), which was won by Esther Motunrayo Olanrewaju, a 19-year-old law student from Obafemi Awolowo University. Esther won a cash prize of ₦250,000, an award plaque, and a certificate of oratory excellence, and was commended for her exceptional public speaking skills and knowledge of maritime topics.
