CHIEF EMEKA IHEDIOHA (Chief Whip, House of Reps)
I am indeed very delighted and privileged to have been called upon to chair this very significant event: the
unveiling of “Contemporary issues in the maritime industry”. This has brought me back to the family that I cherish tremendously, the family I have had a wonderful working relationship with in the four years that I was first elected into the house of Reps.
I am sure that my appointment today as chairman is because I am per chance the highest ranking legislator who has had a background in this industry and I am sure that Sesan and his team needs my support in pushing towards the improvement in the maritime sector. When they come, we shall share in that legacy.
Sesan, a young man that I met in the course of duty, he came across as a very diligent person, he loves breaking news, and I am therefore not surprised that he has the presence of mind to put together a publication like this, not many of us in the media have this kind of mind, often time we are distracted by rumours and those rumours will not let us get to the appropriate destination. Sesan I will advice you to keep your cool, keep your calm, continue to ask God for guidance because that is what distinguishes you from the rest of the pack. When Sesan came to me some months back, about two months now; he insisted on an interview, I obliged and we had about 30 to 45minutes of interview. Thereafter, he came over requesting that he was going to launch a book and insisted that I was going to be the chairman. Today, we are sitting in the house and I choose to be with you to share the wonderful moments we have had together. This book: “Contemporary issues in the maritime industry”, we will continue to see as a major resource, Sesan, we will continue to see your efforts as a guide in helping us to advance in the industry.
I want to say and clearly so that I recommend your partnership with the book. As someone with a media background, I appreciate the efforts that you and your team have put in and I urge you to continue to work hard and all the industry stakeholders will continue to lend you support to survive this harsh economic environment. Thank you for the good work.
CHIEF ADEBAYO SARUMI
Sesan was one of our original team and I bet, you don’t know what I mean by our original team. Sometimes in the late 1980s, there used to be reports, and there were these able young men. Sesan was there, Ray Ugochukwu, Pius, Mordi etc. and these were the real pako of MARAN (Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria).
The major issue in reporting is that you must know what you are reporting, as a matter of fact you should know a bit more than the practitioners themselves. The practitioners know so much, so you need to go one step ahead of them. I have gone through your newspaper and even while sitting down here, I have been informed about quite a number of issues. I have tested the information there and I myself can say that they are accurate.
HON. TONY IJU NWABUNIKE
I want to thank Sesan who actually brought us here today. The first time I met Sesan was through a phone call, by then I was the chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Custom Agents in Apapa. He called and said, “Sir, there are problems in Apapa and asked: where are you chairman” I was in Abuja. I said, Sesan what is the matter again? He said chairman, you don’t have to be in Abuja and your house is burning. So, from then on if Sesan ran into me, I will say “say something”, is there any other thing you want to tell me?
Sesan is gifted; Sesan must give you the right news that is straight to the point, he is not interested in getting you to be molested. Sesan, I must thank you for all your guidance even when I was chairman of ANLCA, and later Secretary General, but today I am chairman of the council for freight forwarders.
MR AKEEM LAWAL (ICPC)
The efforts he and his team have put in into this book and the ones he put into the paper every week, that is Shipping Position, I think it is commendable. In this publication, we will be able to get a view into the activities of stakeholders in the maritime industry and of the regulatory agencies like SON, NAFDAC etc. If these regulatory agents and stakeholders are up and doing and that is what ICPC is all about, trying to ensure transparency and honesty in Nigeria, not only in the industry, not only in the cooperate organizations but also amongst Nigerian citizens. I think that what Sesan has done is worthy of being congratulated and I pray to God to continue to impact you with knowledge and wisdom to continue to do the work. On behalf of the entire ICPC, I congratulate you on this job.
BARRISTER EMEKA AKABOGU
The book is filled with port- related issues and past developments in the maritime industry like experiences relating to NIMASA, and also contributions from the president of ISAN Chief Isaac Jolapamo who referred to Cabotage as sabotage. You will be interested in seeing what the DG of NIMASA Dr Ade Dosunmu thinks of international shipping companies in Nigeria, and thoughts from past Directors General like: Mrs. Ufom Usoro, etc. There is a lot of things featured in this book, there is a lot to be learnt from the maritime stakeholders statements contained in it.
Ladies and gentlemen I present to you all, ‘Contemporary issues in the Maritime industry’, whether you are a politician, a journalist, a lawyer, a freight forwarder, a servant of government, etc in understanding the maritime industry, in making references in the future. I recommend this book to you. It is a book that is interesting to read and important to us all in this nation
MS AINA EGHAREVBA (E.D, NPA)
I am delighted to be here with you at the unveiling ceremony of Contemporary issues in the maritime industry and to speak on “managing change form a state controlled to a private sector – driven port system”.
Shipping Position Weekly; as a news and information medium has contributed to the knowledge base and development of the maritime sector. The Nigerian Ports Authourity accepted to this invitation (as guest speaker) to encourage and deepen this laudable initiative by Shipping Position Weekly.
MR AEEBOLA FASHINA (SON)
I met Sesan a few years back through an introduction form a friend of mine. I must confess that I have had no regrets since then. I have watched him grow into what he is today and we are very proud of his achievements through the newspaper and the book.
Pastor John Iwori (Transport and Maritime Editor, THISDAY)
First and foremost, I want to commend your Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Sesan Onileimo and the entire team of Shipping Position Weekly. Mr. Onileimo in particular has what I describe as “an intimidating credentials”. Indeed, if our colleagues can go the extra mile and read a quarter what he has already read, the journalism profession will be better than what it is. As someone with a background in print journalism, I want to place it on record that you have done well for yourself by going beyond the surface to publish the news as it is and allowing your readers, admirers and critics to judge. In spite of all odds, there are many instances you have shown courage in your reportage. A typical example was your story on Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Badagry, Lagos. Besides the fact that the newspaper has a good layout, all the departments that make it a newspaper in the true meaning and sense of the word are complete in it. As you mark your one year anniversary, do not rest on your oars. The sky is not even the limit for you.
I wish you God guidance and blessings in the years ahead.
Congratulations!
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