Lessons from MAN alumni international summit, London

The Alumni of the up-coming Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron recently left solid imprints on the international maritime business terrain.  The venue was the prestigious Hilton Hotel docklands in London and the atmosphere, clement.  The dream of hosting  an International Maritime Summit in London in 2013 was nursed by the MAN, Oron Alumni Executive Committee Members in Europe, under the Chairman of  Engr, Maurice Asuquo, Batch XIV Ex-cadet  and given the push by the MAN Oron Alumni Care-Taker Committee Members in Nigeria, under the able chairmanship of Captain Olajide Olugunwa, Batch 1 Ex-cadet of the Academy. 

An array of brilliant conference papers were presented by technocrats and maritime experts from different parts of the globe, during the 3-day Summit.
Dr. Hisashi Yamamoto is the Secretary-General of Global On-Board Training Centre (GOBTC).  He is also currently    a Senior Lecturer and Director at Instanbul Technical University, Turkey.  In his presentation.  “Global  On-Board Training for Nigerian Seafarers,” he took a profound look at the critical challenge of sustaining maritime human resource supply capability in a developing  economy like Nigerian in the 21st Century and opined that “technologies are also rapidly transforming the international maritime activities”. 

Mike Williams, the Managing Director of MIRIS International, a UK based specialist Security Provider in his paper “The Gulf of Guinea and Maritime Security Challenges: Piracy, Matters Arising and Personnel training”, outlined the current and emerging piracy threats in the Gulf of Guinea, besides highlighting the challenges of providing risk Management services to arrest these threats to life, goods and services.  He Advocated high standards that must be met and  adhered to by professional Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs), and emphasized “consideration for the imminent ISO 28007” , as being essential as training requirements necessary to ensure high standards, safety and compliance.  As a member of the Security Institute, his extensive experience in delivering international security projects as well as coordinating security resources played to the fore.
Other presentations made include: 

“Legal challenges in International Shipping – Implications  for a sustainable Commercial Transport Management Policy in Emerging Economies” , by Professor Dr. Jason Chuah who is Head of the Academic Law Department, City Law School, City University, London; “Effective Training for Port Facility Security Personnel” by Captain Andrew Winbow, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organisation (IMO); While Mr. Joshua Okpo, the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron spoke on “Mapping the Maritime Academy of  Nigeria for Future Excellence: The Challenges and Opportunities”.
“Port State Control: From a Classification Aspect” was the presentation made by Captain Jim Barclay, Nautical Advisor and Principle specialist, Classification Group, Lloyd’s Registrer; while Mr. Nick Hazlett-Beard, Head of Operations, Oil Spill Response Ltd, UK (OSRL)  presented a paper on “Impact of Oil Spills on Maritime Sector Development: The Need for Preparedness and Response”.  Also, “Fires on Ships” and “Offshore Personnel Training”  were presentations made respectively by Jayan Peter Pillai who is past President, Southern Joint Branch of RINA and IMarEST, and Austin Ume Zurike, Managing Director, BW Offshore Ltd., Nigeria. 

Other illuminating presentations were Engr. T. O. S. Talabi’s “Health, Safety, Environment Security and Facilities in the Nigerian Ports”.  As General Manager of the relevant Department in Nigerian Port authority (NPA), he coasted home well and dry; while Aniekan Sylvester Akpan, a Maritime Lawyer and Researcher who is currently the Secretary, MAN, Oron Alumni – Europe, handled the topic “Maximising Resources in the Nigerian Maritime Industry through Maritime Cabotage Law”.

Earlier on, in the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, who represented His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan, commended the MAN Oron Alumni- Europe for hearkening to the call of the President to all Nigerians within and outside the shores of the country to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria by supporting Government’s Transformation Agenda, which is well on course.  He expressed the hope that the summit will challenge and spur many Nigerians and our allies and friends to do more to harness the enormous potentials inherent in us especially in the Maritime Sector. 

In his own comment, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida thanked the Alumni for successfully hosting its maiden summit in London, noting it was a right choice as the UK remains the hub of international Maritime business and training.  He commended the tenacity of the Alumni in ensuring the event held, despite all challenges, and appreciated all who in various ways contributed to the success of the International Maritime Summit.

 Counting on the impressive presentations and overall success of the event, it was generally agreed that the next summit would hold in Nigeria, in 2014, and that it should be an annual event.