Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Ini Ememobong (2nd from left), president of Brightflow Conglomerate (3rd from left) and other dignitaries during the workshop.
By Dianabasi Effiong
Stakeholders, including Journalists, resource persons, industry leaders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), met at Dakkada Towers, Uyo, on May 16 to exchange valuable ideas during a sensitisation workshop on Maritime Trade and Logistics.
The theme of the workshop was ‘Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Blue Economy Value Chain in Akwa Ibom State for Productivity and Sustainable Growth.
They were also unanimous in commending the commitment of the efforts of Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom in the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport and the larger Ibom Industrial City (IIC).
According to them, the passion that Gov. Eno has brought to bear on the project will, no doubt, accelerate the socio-economic development of the state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Comrade Ini Ememobong, who set the tone, said that while the administration of Pastor Umo Eno had diligently been working to ensure that Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City was realisable, it was important to ensure that the people of Akwa Ibom were well-positioned to be active players in the maritime sector.
“Currently, Lagos and Rivers States are the key players in the maritime sector because of their seaports.
“With the commitment of His Excellency Governor Umo Eno, Akwa Ibom is set to join this league through the construction of Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City.
“While the State Government is working to bring Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City to reality, Akwa Ibom should have a pool of highly skilled manpower for employment at the port and the industries that will be set up in IIC. This is the essence of today’s sensitization workshop,” he added.
Ememobong also said that the sensitisation was organised to enable participants to gain deeper insights into the maritime and blue economic sector, assess the lucrative nature and viability of the sector, and see how they could be part of this industry.
“Success only happens when opportunity meets with preparation. Opportunities are always around, but only the prepared minds are those who see the opportunity…; that is why the seminar is organised.
He also said that Ibom Deep Seaport and the IIC would offer opportunities for the people of the state.
“We want our people to be prepared so that when this administration actualises these projects, our people can be at the forefront of reaping benefits,” Ememobong said.
Similarly, the President of Brightflow Conglomerate, Dr. Aniefiok Iton, who Spoke on maritime logistics, noted that the maritime sector held immense potential, which if harnessed properly, its impact could surpass that of oil exploration.
According to her, the maritime industry is a vital component of global trade, while shipping plays a critical role in the movement of people, commodities, cargo, materials, goods, and services across international borders.
“Harnessing the economic potentials in the maritime industry involves leveraging its diverse facets, including blue economy initiatives, infrastructure development, and sustainable practices.
“This includes maximising the benefits of maritime transport, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism and renewable energy.
“Countries, regions, and communities can unlock substantial economic potential through leverage in this sector,” she said.
Iton, who said it was important to recognize that every sector had its language and, as such, gaining insights and knowledge will help in navigating the sector effectively, also noted that the objective of the workshop was to develop skills for economic diversification in the maritime industry.
She said, “The maritime industry while serving as a major artery in connecting people, products, and services, the industry is exceptionally equipped with potential for citizens with skilled and unskilled credentials to diversify. It holds an immense role for professionals, academics, and activities for people with no academic background but passion, trade, and the ability to be focused and able to communicate politely to their principal and target audience.”
Also, the Rector, Marine and Oceans Academy, Nigeria, Dr Kingsley Ekwere, said that what was also required was “skills acquisition not just onshore but in the waterways.”
“There is no greater time to look into this than now that the Ibom Deep Seaport is about to emerge for West Africa.
“Whatever anybody can do, we can do also, and we should be very interested in skills acquisition to function once the Ibom Deep Seaport is birthed,” Ekwere said.
In his contribution, a lecturer at the Maritime Academy, Nigeria, Dr Friday Ufia, told participants in the workshop that while maritime trade was the exchange of goods and services across the oceans and seas, the logistics were also about customer service.
He also said that there were short courses at the Maritime Academy to equip people in the area to be part of the Ibom Deep Seaport.
“Akwa Ibom has the longest coastline of 129km, a good road network, presence of a maritime academy to train our people.
“We should take advantage of the domiciliation of the Maritime Academy to get trained on how we can benefit from the Ibom Deep Seaport as owners of the port,” Ufia said.
In his presentation, the Director of Projects, Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport, Prof. Akaninyene Ekong, said that maritime activities were open to professionals from all fields, offering vast opportunities across sectors.
He added that it was encouraging to see that, at the national level, bold steps were taken to elevate the marine and blue economy, as evident in the policy brief presented at the Federal Executive Council in May this year.
“At the state level, our Honourable Commissioner took initiative immediately upon assuming office by engaging maritime professionals across the five estates, mandating the development of a localised marine and blue economy policy. That proactive step is commendable,” he said.
According to Ekong, Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City are not just standalone projects, but pivotal economic anchors, with their impact extending across the host local government areas into the surrounding region.
“The seaport and land-based infrastructure will drive industrialisation and activate the full potential of the agri-estates, which are already accessible and infrastructure-ready. With this development, all private estates will eventually integrate into the industrial city zone,” he said.
Highlighting the commitment of the Gov. Umo Eno-led administration towards the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project, Engr. Godwin Ekong, the Acting Director, Centre for Automotive Training, Transport and Logistics (CATTL), Akwa Ibom State University, said, “We have so many coastal areas that support the blue economy. We have the emission industry now, the power of emission, private sectors, and entrepreneurs.
“We know that with this kind of seminar and workshop, they will be able to invest, and the big cost of the blue economy will be reduced.”
Engr. Ekong also said that the Akwa Ibom blue economy under Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda would improve our coastal recreation, maritime tourism, maritime transport, aquaculture, infrastructure, storage facilities, coastal security, and coastal educational management.
According to him, the state is blessed with many coastal areas with strong potential to contribute meaningfully to the blue economy.
“From Oron to Ibaka and beyond, these areas are rich in population, culture, and untapped economic potential.
“In places like Ibeno and Mbo, people are already engaged in small-scale economic activities.
“With the right kind of training and investment, these areas can transform into vibrant economic hubs,” he said.
Engr. Ekong said that for the maritime and blue economy of Akwa Ibom to thrive, it was crucial that key players, particularly skilled workers, were enlightened and prepared for the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
He assured that the blue economy of the state was going to be a reality, adding that there was no need for the people of Akwa Ibom to be onlookers while outsiders took advantage of these opportunities in the sector.
In his goodwill message, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Comrade Amos Etuk, described the workshop as a significant milestone and commended the government for recognizing the importance of positioning the state for future economic relevance.
He said that it was inspiring for journalists to be invited to sit at the table, not just as observers, but as partners to engage with the future of the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
“I want to thank the Honourable Commissioner for convening us here. Thank you for giving us the privilege to be the first to see and speak about the future of this transformational project.
“This is a specialized conversation, and I want to assure you that we, as stakeholders and professionals, are ready to walk with you, to champion this vision, support the process, and work toward unlocking the full economic benefits for our state,” he said.
Also, Engr. Udosen Udoh, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, was represented by the Head of Project Implementation, Coordination and Monitoring, Arc. Ekanwan Alale, thanked the participants for availing themselves of the opportunity to learn, relearn, and unlearn.
Others who spoke at the event also hailed the commitment and passion of Gov. Umo Eno towards the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project.
