The Top10 magazine, Nigeria’s foremost publication that celebrates the top of the best in all areas of endeavor, has released the list of Nigeria’s top 10 maritime leaders, under the title, “Nigeria’s Maritime Top 10”.
In the latest edition of the magazine which looks at the stakes and contributions of indigenous maritime operators, the magazine lists the top 10 investors shaping local participation in the sector.
Top on the list are former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who is the founder of Intels Nigeria; General T.Y Danjuma (rtd), chairman, Five Star Logistics Limited and NAL-Comet Shipping; Chief Oladipo Jadesimi, founder of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder and chairman of Greenview Development Services Limited.
Others on the list are Adesuyi Haastrup, chairman, ENL Consortium Limited; Emeka Ofor, chairman, Inland Container Terminal Nigeria Limited; Aderemi Makanjuola, chairman, Caverton Offshore Support Group; Taiwo Afolabi, founder of Sifax Group of Companies; Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, chairman, Daddo Group of Companies and Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, chairman, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company Limited.
Mr. Tony Iji, publisher of The Top10, said in a release that, “In line with our tradition of celebrating 10 leading lights in every sector of the society, this edition of the magazine focuses on the top 10 Nigerian investors who are shaping indigenous participation in the maritime industry”. He said the major criteria for selection were market leadership of the operators, investment in infrastructure, as well as contribution to industry growth and economic development of Nigeria.
“In an industry dominated by foreigners, celebration of local investors who have distinguished themselves in contributing to the development of the sector is our little way of encouraging those who are working towards indigenous control of the industry”, Iji said.
He said the maritime sector was very critical to the economic development of Nigeria, hence the need to pay special attention to what happens in the industry, in view of the need to strengthen local participation. He also said in spite of its potential as a major driver of the economy, studies have shown that the industry is largely dominated by foreigners, to the detriment of indigenous operators. This notwithstanding, some indigenous operators have demonstrated capacity to increase local participation in the sector by investing in the required infrastructure and technologies to handle big and lucrative businesses such as lifting of crude oil, and other capital intensive operations.
“Our intention, therefore, is to identify and celebrate the top 10 industry leaders who have made the difference in the drive towards establishment of indigenous control in the operation of the Nigerian maritime industry”, Iji said. “These industry leaders comprise magnates that have built enormous operating capacities in various aspects of the business and, in them, rest the hope of increasing the participation of indigenous operators in the Nigerian maritime sector”.
