Dangote Commends Dakuku, Says NIMASA Awards Will Stimulate Excellence in Maritime Industry
By DAPO OLAWUNI
Africa’s richest businessman and President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has commended the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside for providing a focused leadership at the apex agency, even as he praised the DG for organising the annual Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards.
He identified the maritime industry as a key element in the efforts to rstimulate the Nigerian economy.
Speaking ahead of the maritime Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), which is geared towards reinvigorating the economy, Dangote said, “The maritime sector is key to the development of the Nigerian economy. As stakeholders, we are committed to supporting the Federal Government towards achieving a vibrant maritime industry in Nigeria. My support is unflinching.
“I also commend the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for being focused in providing an enabling environment for industry players in the country, while recognising the great job of the team under the leadership of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General.
It is teamwork that makes it all possible and NIMASA is recognising this by honouring its staff and industry stakeholders. The maritime industry awards is a very good initiative, one necessary to stimulate excellence in the Nigerian maritime industry.”
The Agency has done very much to enhance maritime safety and security, and created a viable platform for better indigenous participation and capacity building. It has tried to develop adequate manpower and infrastructure in the sector in line with international best practices.
This is even as Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, said the maritime sector had been galvanised into an inclusive community of stakeholders and players working to grow the economy. Tallen said it was an opportune time to invest in the Nigerian economy.
Tallen commended NIMASA’s new push for gender equality under the current Director-General, saying it has created an environment where actors are comfortable to contribute their talents to the sustainable use of the country’s ocean resources for economic growth.
She extolled the virtues of women in the Nigerian maritime industry, and advised them to make the best use of the environment created for them to be their best.
According to the minister, “With last year’s focus on women empowerment by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and the 2019 theme of the Day of the Seafarer being ‘I am on Board with Gender Equality’, it is only fair and honourable that we commend the efforts of the DG NIMASA for embracing the message and meritoriously allowing and entrusting women staff within the agency with many top positions. This is commendable!”
She commended NIMASA’s support for the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive through tangible efforts to develop the blue economy.
Tallen said, “Not only has the Agency in many ways transformed the maritime industry by advancing it to international specifications and requirements, it recognises the outstanding actors who have facilitated and fostered this change. For this, congrats are in order and I pray that many others take a cue from NIMASA. It takes teamwork and this teamwork is being recognised.”
