By Sandra Chukwunyere
SIFAX Group has challenged young Nigerians to take the lead in shaping the future of the country’s maritime industry, stressing that the nation’s ambition to emerge as Africa’s blue economy hub depends largely on a new generation of skilled, innovative and visionary professionals.
The charge was given at the 2026 edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Conference held at the University of Lagos, where more than 2,000 participants drawn from government agencies, academia, the maritime industry and the private sector gathered to mark the conference’s 10th anniversary.
Delivering the address of the Group Executive Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, the Group Coordinating Director, Mrs. Wunmi Eniola-Jegede, said Nigeria’s greatest asset in unlocking the vast opportunities of the blue economy is its young population.
Speaking on the theme, “Ten Tides of Impact: Raising a Generation to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Blue Giant,” Afolabi urged students to embrace mentorship, pursue excellence and equip themselves with the knowledge and skills required to provide leadership in the maritime sector.
He noted that while Nigeria has often been described as a sleeping giant in the blue economy, the responsibility of transforming that potential into reality lies with the present generation of young Nigerians.
Afolabi also described the TAAM Conference as a success story, noting that it has evolved from a modest student initiative into West Africa’s largest student-led maritime conference.
According to him, the platform has continued to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice by connecting students with policymakers, regulators and key industry stakeholders.
The conference also featured a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, by the agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chudi Offodile.
In the keynote, NIMASA reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to placing young Nigerians at the centre of the country’s blue economy agenda through sustained investments in maritime education, seafarer development, vessel financing, innovation and maritime security.
The agency highlighted initiatives such as the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund and the Blue Economy Accelerator Initiative as key programmes designed to provide young Nigerians with opportunities to build careers in the maritime sector, own vessels, develop innovative technologies and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economic growth.
The anniversary conference also featured policy dialogues, panel discussions and the Blueprint Debate Competition, which has grown into a nationally recognised platform for university students to engage in debates on maritime development, governance and public policy.
According to a statement signed by the Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akande, the annual conference has continued to serve as a strategic platform for nurturing future maritime leaders while promoting stronger collaboration between academia and industry in support of Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations.
