The Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) has honoured the Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr Pius Akutah; President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi; and other individuals and organisations for their contributions to Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The award recipients include the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Micura Services Limited, High Chief Dr Michael Ubogu; Rivers Port Complex Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Kenechi Okezie; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Bomarah Group, Hajia Bola Muse; and the Kaduna Inland Dry Port (KIDP).
The awards were presented during MARCON’s 2026 National Conference on Sustainable Fishing, held on Wednesday, September 30, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Akutah received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the development of port economic regulation and institutional strengthening in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
His recognition followed his professional journey from the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), where he served as Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, to his appointment as the pioneer head of NPERA.
Before joining the maritime sector, Akutah served as Head of the Central Authority Unit, International Cooperation Department, in the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
His experience in international cooperation in criminal matters, including extradition and mutual legal assistance, has also contributed to his professional profile.
At the NSC, he participated in developing and strengthening the port economic regulatory framework, experience he has continued to apply in his role at NPERA.
Similarly, Bunu received the MARCON Labour Leader of the Year Award for his leadership, advocacy for workers’ welfare and efforts to promote industrial harmony in the maritime sector.
A professional seafarer, Bunu has spent more than two decades in organised labour, progressing through various leadership positions within MWUN before emerging as its President-General on March 28, 2025.
He previously served as Deputy President-General of the union and was appointed Dockworkers Regional Chairman by the International Transport Workers’ Federation in 2024.
His leadership has focused on workers’ rights, improved conditions of service, collective bargaining, safety awareness and engagement with employers and relevant government agencies.
In the private sector, Ubogu received the MARCON Maritime Entrepreneurship Excellence Award, while Micura Services Limited was recognised as the Most Safety Conscious Dock Labour Employer.
The awards acknowledged Ubogu’s contribution to indigenous maritime enterprise and the company’s commitment to workplace safety, employee welfare and professional dock labour management.
Micura Services Limited provides stevedoring and maritime logistics services, including cargo handling, vessel operations, dock labour deployment and terminal support.
The company’s recognition highlights its emphasis on workforce training, risk management, operational supervision and compliance with health, safety and environmental standards.
Okezie received the MARCON Port Management and Operational Excellence Award for her leadership at Rivers Port Complex and contributions to operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement and service delivery.
With more than 24 years of service at the NPA, she has worked in various capacities at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos Port Complex and the Authority’s corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
Her appointment as Port Manager of Rivers Port Complex in December 2023 made her the youngest person to occupy the position in the NPA’s history at the time. She was subsequently reappointed in August 2024.
Her professional experience includes participation in committees responsible for voyage meeting reconciliation, towage operations, corporate documentation and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Muse, meanwhile, received the MARCON Maritime Woman of Impact Award in recognition of her entrepreneurial leadership, contributions to the maritime industry and humanitarian interventions.
With more than three decades of experience in the sector, Muse has built Bomarah Investment Limited into a diversified business with interests in customs clearing and forwarding, warehousing, storage, inland transportation, haulage and oil and gas consulting.
She is also the President of Women in Maritime Africa (WIMAFRICA), Nigeria Chapter, and serves as Financial Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA).
Beyond her business and professional activities, Muse founded the Bomarah Foundation to support vulnerable people through empowerment programmes for widows and women, educational assistance and support for persons living with disabilities.
The Kaduna Inland Dry Port also received recognition, emerging as MARCON’s Best Dry Port in Africa for its contribution to inland cargo logistics, port connectivity and trade facilitation.
Operated by Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL), the facility was commissioned in January 2018 to serve as a port of origin for exports and a port of destination for imports.
Its operations include cargo handling, warehousing, cargo consolidation, haulage and related shipping and logistics services, helping to bring port services closer to businesses and cargo owners in northern Nigeria.
According to MARCON President, Ismail Aniemu, the award followed an assessment of 10 dry ports and off-dock facilities across Africa.
Aniemu said the study highlighted KIDP’s impact in connecting Lagos and eastern Nigerian ports with Kaduna and neighbouring areas, despite the limited seamless rail connections between the country’s seaports and the inland facility.
He said the dry port had demonstrated operational resilience while supporting import and export activities, agricultural development and industrial growth.
Speaking after receiving the award, ICNL Managing Director, Omotayo Philip Dada, said the company remained committed to customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance and the adoption of global best practices.
Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the awards recognised individuals and organisations whose contributions were helping to strengthen the maritime industry.
He said the honours reflected the importance of indigenous entrepreneurship, effective port management, institutional development, workers’ welfare, workplace safety and women’s participation in maritime business.
The 2026 conference, themed “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” brought together policymakers, regulators, maritime operators, researchers, training institutions and other stakeholders to discuss sustainable development of Nigeria’s fisheries sector.
Editorial note: Before publication, confirm the official name of NPERA, the precise titles of the awards and whether MARCON formally described the Kaduna Inland Dry Port as the Best Dry Port in Africa. These details should be consistent with the organisation’s official award announcements.
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