Technology-driven reforms and operational innovations in Nigeria’s maritime and trade facilitation ecosystem will take centre stage at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), scheduled for September 4 at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.
The one-day summit, which begins at 10:00 a.m., is themed “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.” It will bring together policymakers, regulators, maritime professionals, port and shipping operators, academics, technology experts and other stakeholders to examine how innovation can transform Nigeria’s maritime workforce and strengthen the blue economy.
A major highlight of the summit will be a presentation by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, titled “An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations.”
AMJON said the choice of the Customs Service reflects the growing importance of technology in trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation, border management and national economic security.
The Association noted that the NCS has introduced several technology-driven reforms, including the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu, and its synchronisation with the National Single Window initiative.
Other innovations expected to feature prominently include the Time Release Study, One Stop Shop approach and the deployment of drones for geospatial border surveillance.
According to AMJON, the reforms demonstrate how digitalisation is increasingly reshaping cargo clearance, trade facilitation, revenue collection and enforcement, while also creating new demands for specialised skills and continuous professional development.
The summit will therefore examine how such innovations can be sustained and integrated into a broader maritime human capital development strategy.
AMJON stressed that Nigeria’s ability to maximise its blue economy potential depends not only on its marine resources but also on the availability of highly skilled indigenous manpower capable of deploying modern technologies across the maritime value chain.
Discussions will cover digital transformation, artificial intelligence and automation, future maritime skills, workforce reskilling and upskilling, maritime safety and security, technology-driven customs administration, port digitalisation, indigenous manpower development and innovation in maritime education.
The summit will also explore the role of public-private partnerships, regulators and training institutions in preparing Nigerian professionals for emerging technologies and evolving global maritime standards.
AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit was designed to stimulate practical conversations on the future of maritime training and ensure that Nigeria’s workforce keeps pace with technological developments reshaping the global maritime industry.
She said innovation-driven capacity development was critical to ensuring that Nigeria does not merely possess maritime resources but develops the human capacity required to convert them into sustainable economic value.
The summit will also provide maritime journalists with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of emerging technologies, regulatory developments and operational reforms, thereby strengthening specialised reporting and public awareness of the sector.
AMJON expects the summit to generate practical recommendations that will support the development of a future-ready maritime workforce and contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to unlock the full economic potential of the blue economy.
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