PHOTO TREND: Faces of Stakeholders At Asu Beks 70th Birthday: Dr Jamoh, Kingsley Kuku Bag Awards

On Sunday, 14th of January 2024, critical stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime converged for the 70th birthday celebration of Elder Asu Beks, a doyen of maritime journalism in Nigeria.

At the elaborate event which drew sons and daughters of the ijaw nation, also saw the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh and Dr Kingsley Kuku, former Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) with awards.

Dignitaries at the event includes; Dr Bashir Jamoh, maritime lawyer, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN, Shipowner, Capt Taiwo Akinpelumi, another maritime lawyer, Barr Emeka Akabogu, former President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, as well as maritime security expert and Chairman of Bricks, Emmanuel Maiguwa.

Others are; Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Charles Ekpowei Edike (rtd) President of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, his vice, Prince Segun Oduntan, Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, and a whole lot of others.

In his opening address, the celebrant, Elder Asu Beks said “I want us to pause for a moment and celebrate with me, two great minds, who in all modesty, came ahead of their time. And they are from the two constituencies that are dear to my heart

“I have an unquenchable passion for the Niger Delta and our Marine and Blue Economy. Ironically, these sectors account for over 90 per cent of our balance of payment. And I ask , what is Nigeria without the Niger Delta or where will Nigeria be in the comity of nations without the Maritime Industry?

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s rise up to celebrate Dr Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and Dr Kingsley Kemebradigha Kuku aka K3, the former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta.

“I have decided to use the occasion of my 70th birthday to honour these patroits par excellence ,whose love for their fatherland is phenomenal.

“Dr Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency is being honored today as THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MARITIME PERSONALITY OF THE DECADE, in recognition of his giant strides in the Maritime Industry in the last decade.

“Dr Bashir Jamoh has not only been widely acclaimed for the securing the Gulf of Guinea, he has lived up to his mandate to strengthen the 3 pillars on which his administration was built to include Safety, Shipping development and Seafers Development.

“He has also ensured that he does not fall short on his key performance indicators , thus building a regime of Transparency in Corporate Governance.

“DR. KINGSLEY KUKU, on his part is being celebrated today as THE MOST INFLUENTIAL NIGER DELTA PERSONALITY OF THE DECADE for his uncommon leadership style which has endeared him not only to the Niger Delta region, but to the global community when he served in his capacity as Chairman of the PAP.

“Dr Kuku was appointed at a time the Niger Delta region came up on the global map as a hot bed for banditry, piracy and other acts of criminality . Oil receipts had also plunged to its lowest ebb

“But all that changed the the moment the KUKU CONCEPT was introduced as the healing tonic ,thus ensuring safely and security in the Niger Delta , with Nigeria bouncing back to meet her daily OPEC quota.

“Ladies and gentlemen join me to recognize these great Nigerians, one from Arogbo , Ondo State in South West Nigeria and the other from Zaria , Kaduna State in the North West”