L-R Mr Isichei Osamgbi , Director Admin and Human Resources, NIMASA, Captain Sunday umoren , Abuja MOU, Dr Adunayo Ani, Director, Audit, NIMASA, Olurotimi Babatunde Anifowose – Director, Strategic Planning and Research, Shippers Council, Engr. Olalekan Badmus – Executive Director – Marine and Operations, NPA during the 2025 Nigerian Maritime Golf Challenge at Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos state.
It was a gathering of notable government and private sector stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry at the Nigerian Maritime Golf Challenge held at Ikoyi Club in Lagos.
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) while welcoming participants and spectators described sports as a great way to unwind and fertile platform to interact towards attracting investment in the marine and blue economy areas of the nation’s economy
Mobereola who was represented by Dr. Isichei Osamgbi, NIMASA’s Director of Special Duties commended President Bola Tinubu for the creation of the marine and blue economy ministry, describing the move as a bold step towards preparing Nigerians to tap into the country’s enormous maritime potentials.
GM Nigerian Ports Authority
The NIMASA DG commended what he described as a massive turnout for the game despite heavy rainfall. According to him, while the organisers planned for 72 golfers, participation swelled beyond 90
The event which had former NIMASA DG Barr Temisan Omatseye;Nigerian Port Authority General Manager,Chief Sylvester Othuke Egede, CEO of Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr Pius Akutah, represented by Director of Special Duties,Olurotimi Anifowose drew local and foreign golf players
For maritime nett winners, Rear Admiral David Adegbola Adeniran (rtd) emerged as the overall winner of the tournament with Frank Gboneme winning the second runner up and Abiodun Adeoye taking the third place
Other winners include Araoluwa Popoola, Elias Abdelahad and Rude Huang having first, second and third places as men’s guests nett winners.His Royal Majesty ASK Makinde emerged as overall Gross Winner
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event Osamgbi said “The importance of today’s engagement is that it marked a really great time for us in terms of what everyone can do to bring consciousness of the blue economy to the minds of Nigerians. It’s a great opportunity. The President has done his best creating the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and letting us know that we can do more as a nation.
“We need to focus on how to drive the economy alternatively from oil. We felt in the times when we’re having the World Maritime Day on the 25th of September, it would be good to do something that can bring the stakeholders together and also non-major stakeholders who would like to do things in the industry. We found the golf section of the Ikoyi Club is a very good opportunity.
“That’s where we are supposed to meet people who have the ability and capacity to invest in the maritime sector or at least create a fertile mind around them so that whatever idea brought in terms of the economy will materialise through playing golf. We want to thank our participants because what happened today is unbelievable. If it was in the Christendom, I would say it is faith at the highest level.
“It started just like an idea and grew into something great .We planned for a tee-up at 8.30am but by 7am, it was raining cats and dogs. It didn’t stop until about 9.30am to 10am, yet nobody moved. They remained and we planned for 72 golfers yet we had over 80 golfers at the end. People were even saying we shouldn’t worry, it’s normal. If we have a maritime engagement, we shouldn’t be scared of water.
” turned it to fun and we stayed faithfully until the end.From what you can see and what everybody has said, this should happen again. We are looking forward to the next year.I can tell you that the huge support of the Golf game is overwhelming. We are grateful to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) ,Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
“For us, this is a way to show faith in the industry and we can’t but wish Nigeria well.We are getting close to the week when we’ll be celebrating 65 years independence. We also pray that all the efforts the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola is putting into the category C campaign along with his team will be fruitful.We are confident that if all of us keep making great efforts from all angles, it’s not only the category C that we’ll get, we’ll be able to draw huge attention and interest to the maritime industry and the blue economy to drive it better” Osamgbi said
Sylvester Egede an NPA chieftain commended the organisers while describing the maritime industry as most central to the economy ahead of oil
Egede added that sport is a unifier needed in a critical sector like the maritime industry
He said “I’m highly elated that this was initiated. The maritime industry is the biggest industry in this country. People think it’s the oil industry, but it’s the maritime industry because it is the gateway to the nation’s economy and it means that it is the first port of call.
“For NIMASA to have taken the initiative and NPA is following by sponsoring, it’s a good initiative.We pray that we sustain it and by coming together to ensure that this is driven to a sustainable development because when we talk about sports, it is the only avenue to bring people together. Diverse culture, religion and sports bring people together.This will also enable all hands to be on deck and by the time we come together, we will foster both human and capital development.
Sports is an avenue to drive investment all around the world, because through sports you can do networking, especially golf because every flight consists of four members of a team playing and by the time you are in a team for hours, you are talking and exchanging ideas.
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