By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Former National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, has pledged to leverage his new role as an International Peace Advocate to foster conflict resolution and strengthen stakeholder harmony within the maritime sector.
Speaking at the 2026 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, shortly after receiving the honour, Shittu unveiled plans to establish a Maritime Desk within the United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC). He described the initiative as a strategic platform aimed at addressing critical challenges in the maritime industry through dialogue, mediation, and institutional collaboration.
According to him, the recognition goes beyond ceremony, serving as a call to greater responsibility and renewed commitment to societal service. He noted that the honour provides a broader platform to intervene in crises and contribute meaningfully to peace-building efforts.
Shittu linked the global significance of multilateralism to the realities within the maritime sector, expressing optimism about the opportunities UN-POLAC could unlock for the industry. He stressed that peace remains fundamental to nation-building, economic development, and industrial stability.
He dedicated the award to his family, members of ANLCA, his team at the Maritime Industry Merit Awards, and stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime sector.
In her guest lecture, legal expert Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN) highlighted the strong connection between peace and economic stability. She argued that sustainable development can only thrive within a peaceful environment, urging policymakers and stakeholders to promote economic peace through ethical practices, inclusive policies, and collaboration among government, citizens, and the private sector.
Anishere described peace as both a moral obligation and an economic necessity, warning that growth cannot be sustained without justice, cooperation, and institutional stability.
Chairman of the occasion and head of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC), Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, described the event’s theme, Uniting for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, as both inspiring and action-driven. He emphasized that multilateralism is essential in today’s interconnected world.
Olanrewaju noted that peace should not merely be seen as the absence of conflict but as the presence of justice, equity, and mutual understanding. He added that the CCC plays a vital role in bridging gaps between policy and practice, as well as between government and industry stakeholders.
He further stressed that sustained engagement across the trade and supply chain ecosystem promotes collaboration, efficiency, and shared understanding, insisting that efficiency thrives where collaboration exists.
Also speaking, the Director General of UN-POLAC, Prof. Eton Obong, represented by Pastor Zacchaeus Ogunsaya, called for deliberate efforts to build peace through cooperation, discipline, justice, and sincere dialogue. He emphasized that multilateralism remains crucial in addressing global challenges.
He urged members of the organisation to go beyond ceremonial roles by embodying the principles of peace in their daily conduct. According to him, members must demonstrate integrity, tolerance, self-control, and active commitment to the organisation’s mission.
Obong described the event as not just a celebration, but a call to responsibility, urging all honourees to serve as true ambassadors of peace.
