NIMASA Workshop for Maritime Journalists Bound To Positively Affect Maritime Reportage
NIMASA Workshop for Maritime Journalists Bound To Positively Affect Maritime Reportage
By Okezie Nnadi
To help arm Journalists covering the Maritime Industry with much needed skill and strengthen the capacity of Journalists in maritime reportage, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has recently organized a workshop at Kitack Lim Regional Maritime Safety and Security Centre of Excellence (KLRMSSCE) Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos.
The training mainly focused on ‘Regulating the Maritime Industry- The NIMASA Perspective’ was elucidated in three presentations-NIMASA’s role in Nigeria’s participation in International Shipping Trade; Understanding the International Maritime Regulatory Framework; and NIMASA’s Enforcement Processes at a Glance.
This session was facilitated by retired Director, Shipping Development, NIMASA, Mr. Anthony Ogadi, and the Deputy Director/SA to the Executive Director Operations, NIMASA, Mr. Peter Agbaminoja respectfully, harped on the need for Journalists to engage in proper investigations and also put the interest of the Country first before reporting any developments in the industry.
The two facilitators stressed how media reports can impacted the progress and success of a country, and if not properly coined with sound in depth report, can endangered the progress of the economy.
Also, representing the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola is the Director of Admin and Human Resources, Isichie Osamgbi, who underscored the importance of the training and extolled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his progressive initiatives, especially the creation of Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and also assured a brighter future for Nigeria.
In his words, “There is no great nation without Maritime industry, the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy by the President is apt and is a laudable initiative. Honestly our country has a brighter future”.
Also speaking, the Director of Admin and Human resources, Mr Isichie Osamgbi who said, “quote me if you are looking for light, the future is in your hands believe me, in the hands of every one of us here.
If Nigeria economy becomes better, I tell you, I am not a prophet or soothsayer but from what I know, it’s like God has just chosen not to save the future of Nigeria because it’s in your hands. Now, I will explain; if it’s to talk I don’t have a problem with that I’m a specialist, if it’s probably bricklaying, or engineering, or medicine, I may fail but this one I know and as a Nigerian in this leadership position, I believe this is the work of God for me to be here, ask me why I said so, Nigeria is 64yrs right?
Continuing, Osamgbi said, “In Nigeria’s 62,63yrs we have heard somebody woke up one day and deliberately said, I want to be president to lead us to our Eldorado, I was just coming on the road I was an Energy correspondent and later, Energy editor of ‘This day newspaper’ for many years. I factually reported, if it was the days of This day, go and check my writings my writings were clear, “remove subsidy.” I went round the country and campaigned with Chief Oboloko not for any reason, we looked at the disparities. How do we make Nigeria economy better? So I wrote on the perspective seeing all the signs both as a Nigerian candidate and the perspective of journalism, if someone goes out carrying fuel or did not carry fuel, you will see 30billion. Those once are gone. Probably, what we should be saying is what will the money be used for and how it’s been used , subsidy anchors in other ways, inflation or in a tight way that you will feel it in government and in part, commodities.But for me, as a Nigerian this government is consciously taking decisions, no improvement but it’s a temporary thing and to Vision that thing I said for 62,63yrs there is nothing like ministry of Marine and blue economy somebody woke up one day and said I will do it. That’s the only ministry with great pattern, someone consciously created that ministry of Marine and blue economy, he did not just creat it, he chose people that I know are competent to deliver, he chose ministers. Specifically, he moved on and chose the Director General whom he had nurtured over the years as if he knew the future,he had served in LAMATA and also the commissioner of Transportation, go and check his records, we know his effect, he worked under governor Ambode we saw the impact and we all saw things happening and that same person today is superintending over NIMASA. That means this government knew where we are going to in the future and to crown it all, he asked me “how do I get there if I don’t have the mandate of the media”and I told him from my experience as a media man the media can make up one anything and get one depressed, I knew how positivity could help to build this nation ,I was approached to be part of this team and was made director of human resources,what else do you expect when somebody who shares the same vision with you calls you. I have trained like this for years now, lives has been impacted,if You have worked with me before as a journalist, you can be rest assured that any day any time you have my audience. So how did I achieve this vision?There is no great nation in the world that is not a Maritime nation, let’s name them: is it Japan,China, Dubai, France etc . The resources are there we are the only one that are not tapping into our greatness. The president has decided that it is our time , our time has come and the future is in your hands you are the one to tell the people the future,the opportunities the people in Europe and America will be glad to come and have but have we created that opportunity? The answer is No; our time is now,” Osamgbi said.
The One day training is expected to have impact positively on maritime journalists reporting perspectives. This is bound to also positively affect the Maritime Industry .
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