The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) recently played host to a top delegation of Ohaneze led by a former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife. The visit primarily was to show appreciation for the choice of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) as one out of the four Universities selected for the establishment of Maritime Institutes.
The Director General of the Agency, Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi while thanking the delegation for the visit said he was most humbled by the felicitation extended to him by the group and maintained that the choice of UNN as one of the centers for the Maritime Institute was a well informed decision considering the important role the university has played in the education of the Igbo race.
The Institute he said, is to develop human capacity to fill existing gaps in the maritime sector in the areas of marine engineering, naval architecture, and other related disciplines.
He also noted that the appointment of Barrister Nwabueze Callistus Obi as an Executive Director at NIMASA could not have come at a better time in view of the commercial role the Igbo race plays in the country in the areas of export and import. He stressed that the ED will use his expertise in legal matters to not only improve on the fortunes of their line of business but will be a bridge builder in areas that there are challenges. He posited with relish that he has found the ED, Maritime Labour and Cabotage services, Barrister Obi to be very hard working with great intellectual capacity to give NIMASA the needed boost to drive its programmes.
The DG maintained that the Igbo race maintains pole position in the area of commerce in Nigeria as they can be found in almost every small community in Nigeria and their activities have undoubtedly added to the overall growth of the nation.
The DG thereafter informed the group that the Federal Government appreciates the contribution of the Igbo race to the growth of Nigeria which partly explains the inclusion of two South-East States of Abia and Imo in the amnesty scheme which led to the selection of some students from these states to go for studies abroad on full scholarship by the Federal Government.
The group also used the occasion to express appreciation to the Federal Government through the DG for finding their son Barrister Nwabueze Callistus Obi worthy of appointment as an Executive Director. Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife maintained that Barrister Obi was well liked and appreciated by the Igbo for being a grassroots person, approachable and unassuming. And that the DG will find him a worthy team player as they work for the rapid development of the maritime sector.
The ED Maritime Labour and Cabotage services in his contribution said he was overwhelmed by the visit from his kinsmen and the encomiums poured on him. He maintained that his modest contributions to the Igbo people and Nigeria in general have not gone unnoticed arising from the position he has been elevated to and promised to rededicate himself to the service of his fatherland.
Also speaking the Executive Director Admin and Finance, Mr. Baba Haruna Jauro extolled the qualities of his colleague and prayed for a peaceful tenure for them all.
Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho , a former minister of interior was recently in Lagos by NIMASA over alleged oil theft.But the former minister said it was part of the plot to destroy his business.The statement from NIMASA about Ohaneze’s visit did not state whether the Iheanacho saga was discussed or not.
