The Director General of International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION), Rear Admiral Thaddeus (rtd) Udofia has said strategic leadership in the institution is the engine that transforms vision into action while organisational development is the compass that ensures it remains adaptable, resilient, and aligned with its purpose.
While delivering his opening remarks at the IMION Management Staff Executive Course on Strategic Leadership for the Centre of Excellence for the Blue Economy ,on 25th September , 2025, he said the establishment of IMION, represents more than just a new institutional framework but it signals a bold vision for leadership, knowledge generation, and regional transformation.
He added that the theme “Strategic Leadership For The Center of Excellence For the Blue Economy: Organisational Development and Change Management” is creating a chance to shape how ocean-based economic development intersects with innovation, sustainability, and human capital.
“Organisational development and change management are continuous processes .They require us to be proactive, reflective and inclusive .As IMION staff and management staff, we hold a critical role, not only in managing structures and systems but in inspiring people and cultivating a culture that drives sustainable growth and impact in the blue economy.
” Our journey towards building a world-class Centre of Excellence depends on our collective ability to lead with clarity, purpose and courage.”
Prof. Freedom Onuoha, the Coordinator of Security, Violence and Conflict (SVC) Research Group at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, highlighted some of the potential pathways to nurturing IMION into becoming a leading world-class hub of innovation, research and political action that can enhance the great economic potentials of Nigeria for sustainable growth, security, and prosperity.
According to him, there is a fundamental distinction between mere leadership and strategic leadership.He stated that strategic leadership is much more robust and difficult as it goes beyond the day-to-day influencing.
Onuoha emphasised that in addition to developing training and strategic programs, IMION should also take into consideration of the leadership importance of organising seminars, rendezvouses, and dialogues to implement policies and practices and enhance the assessment of best practices.
He also advised that a means of collaborating with international bodies, governments, universities, and private sector should be initiated.
While motivating the staff on leadership, he told them to continue to be creative.He said improvement will bring feedback loops, regular evaluation of the curriculum and opportunity for regular evaluation of the performance of the faculty.
“IMION can be innovative by ensuring that there is a research-to-industry pathway. Whatever we are going to do by way of research, we should make sure that it is connected to the particular industry that we will use.
“If we want our staff to be on top of our game, we should not conclude that they have a PhD or they have some international experience. Any opportunity that can benefit the staff must be taken seriously because when you train your staff at the top of their game, they are more likely going to produce the best of quality in terms of outcomes.
“Strategic leadership can focus on long-term objectives regarding an obligation towards sustainable success by establishing a clear vision and mission and making such decisions that align with them. This is where so-called human control of things comes in.
“In this era of digital world, we must embrace doing transformations. We must empower a little bit of artificial intelligence in embracing them.We don’t have that because the teachers will tell you that change is the only thing that is consistent. The world we live in is a state of flux, changing constantly and suggesting new forms that will lead to a greater capacity.”, he said.
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