The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) is set to convene maritime industry stakeholders, policymakers, regulators, practitioners, academics and development partners at its 2026 Maritime Training Summit scheduled for September 4, 2026, in Lagos.
The one-day summit will hold at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, from 10:00a.m., with the theme, “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.”
The summit is designed to place human capital development at the centre of Nigeria’s quest to maximise the economic opportunities presented by the blue economy.
AMJON said the event would provide a platform for robust conversations, knowledge sharing and capacity building on how innovation, technology and continuous professional development can strengthen Nigeria’s maritime workforce and promote sustainable growth across the sector.
The Association noted that Nigeria’s coastal location gives the country significant access to global maritime trade routes and vast marine resources, but stressed that geography alone cannot translate into economic prosperity without a competent, skilled and technology-driven workforce.
According to AMJON, the maritime sector, encompassing ports, shipping, logistics, fisheries, offshore energy, shipbuilding and repairs, as well as emerging blue economy activities, remains a critical avenue for transforming Nigeria’s maritime resources into sustainable economic value.
The Association therefore believes that investment in maritime training, retraining and continuous capacity development is essential to building the indigenous manpower required to drive the sector and compete effectively in the global maritime economy.
A major highlight of the summit will be a presentation by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has been invited to speak on “An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations.”
AMJON said the invitation reflects the growing importance of innovation and digital transformation in maritime trade, border management, revenue generation and national economic security.
The Association specifically acknowledged recent technological and operational reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service, including the home-grown Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu, its integration with the National Single Window initiative, and other measures aimed at improving trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Other innovations to be highlighted include the Time Release Study, designed to identify and reduce delays in the clearance of goods under customs control; the One Stop Shop initiative aimed at harmonising operations; and the deployment of drones for geospatial border surveillance.
AMJON said these developments demonstrate how technology and innovation can reshape traditional maritime and border management systems while supporting economic security and facilitating legitimate trade.
The summit is expected to attract senior government officials, maritime regulators, heads of government agencies, shipping and port operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders, customs brokers, maritime training institutions, academics, technology experts, development partners and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s blue economy ecosystem.
The event will also provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the skills gap confronting the maritime industry and explore practical strategies for developing a future-ready workforce capable of responding to emerging technologies, changing global trade patterns and evolving regulatory requirements.
Key issues expected to feature prominently at the summit include the future of maritime training in the digital age; technology-driven capacity development; artificial intelligence and automation in maritime operations; digitalisation of ports and customs processes; maritime safety and security; workforce reskilling and upskilling; indigenous manpower development; innovation in maritime education; and the role of public-private partnerships in building a competitive maritime workforce.
Participants are also expected to deliberate on how Nigeria can strengthen its maritime training institutions and align curricula with the evolving demands of shipping, port operations, logistics, customs administration, offshore activities and other emerging blue economy sectors.
AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit was conceived to contribute to the national conversation on how Nigeria could harness innovation and human capital to unlock greater value from its maritime assets.
She stressed that a future-ready maritime industry must be supported by a workforce equipped with contemporary knowledge, technical competence and the ability to adapt to rapid technological changes.
The Association said the summit would further strengthen the role of maritime journalism in promoting informed public discourse, policy engagement and accountability within the maritime sector.
AMJON therefore called on government agencies, private-sector operators, financial institutions, development organisations and other stakeholders to support the summit as part of broader efforts to promote capacity development and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The Association expressed confidence that the September 4 summit would produce actionable recommendations capable of contributing to Nigeria’s maritime human capital development agenda and strengthening the country’s position as a major player in the global blue economy.
