The International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) has deepened the practical learning experience of participants at its Executive Course on Logistics and Trade Facilitation for the Blue Economy with a guided tour of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) KADA.
The tour formed part of the ongoing three-day executive course, designed to broaden participants’ understanding of logistics, trade facilitation, opportunities and challenges within Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sectors.
Leading the IMION team, Captain R.A. Oyegoke, who represented the Director General of IMION, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (Rtd.), said the visit was organised to complement the classroom sessions with practical exposure.
He said the tour would enable participants to gain a broader understanding of maritime operations and appreciate the practical realities that underpin effective logistics and trade facilitation within the maritime sector.
According to Oyegoke, the visit also provided participants with an opportunity to interact with personnel, ask questions and clarify areas of uncertainty arising from the course.
He noted that such practical engagements were important to strengthening participants’ knowledge and giving them a more rounded understanding of the maritime environment, particularly as Nigeria seeks to harness its vast blue economy potential.
Receiving the participants on board, the Commanding Officer of NNS KADA, Captain A.I. Edet, described the vessel as a formidable amphibious transport ship and highlighted its capabilities in troop embarkation, transportation of military equipment and logistics, maritime security operations, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue and other maritime operations. He said the ship, which belongs to the Landing Ship Transport 100 class, was commissioned in May 2023 and is designed to support a wide range of operations, including the movement of personnel, vehicles and cargo.
Edet said NNS KADA had recorded significant operational achievements, including its participation in the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau, where it transported military equipment from Nigeria to Bissau. He also cited its participation in Exercise Crocodile Lift 2025, conducted in conjunction with the French Navy and Special Forces, as well as passage exercises with visiting navies from countries including the United States, France, Brazil, Spain and India. According to him, the vessel’s participation in these exercises has contributed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime partnerships and operational readiness.
Speaking on the significance of the tour to the participants’ blue economy training, Edet stressed the critical role of the Nigerian Navy in securing and sustaining Nigeria’s maritime domain.
He urged maritime stakeholders to help address what he described as “sea blindness” by creating greater public awareness about activities and opportunities in the maritime sector.
The IMION Executive Course, which runs from September 7 to 9, 2026, brings together stakeholders and professionals to examine key issues around logistics, trade facilitation and the development of Nigeria’s blue economy.
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