By Amina Ojelabi
In a landmark effort to foster collaboration across Nigeria’s maritime industry, veteran mariners have unveiled the waterside centre in Lagos a purpose-built hub for knowledge sharing, mentorship, and sector dialogue.
The Waterside Centre, which is located at the Mission to Seafarers (MTS) Lagos headquarters, also serves as a recreation centre and hub for industry discourse including a periodic Mariner’s Forum.
The lauch also featured a sympoysium to honour the late maritime icon, Dr. Chris Asoluka.
The centre is chaired by Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, former Minister of Interior and Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd, while Dr. Hope Orivri, a seasoned journalist and maritime advocate, serves as CEO.
Speaking at the launch, Capt. Iheanacho stressed the need for industry stakeholders to unite in addressing the evolving challenges of the maritime sector from safety and sustainability to technological adaptation and human capital development.
“This Centre is not just a meeting point it’s a call to collective action,” he stated. He also used the occasion to pay tribute to the late Dr. Chris Asoluka, describing him as a visionary leader whose contributions to maritime policy and development should be eternally celebrated.
An annual symposium has now been instituted in Asoluka’s memory.
Capt. Iheanacho further underscored the importance of safety management at sea, advocating for stronger implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS), crew engagement, and mental health support for seafarers.
“We enforce strict safety measures from mandatory pre-arrival security submissions to compliance with global standards so we can protect not just lives, but our marine environment,” he said.
Dr. Hope Orivri, in her remarks, described the Waterside Centre as a long-overdue home for the Nigerian maritime community. She emphasized the centre’s mission of mentorship and community engagement, particularly in coastal and riverine areas.
“The Waterside Centre is more than a building. It’s a growing community committed to passing down indigenous maritime knowledge, mentoring young seafarers and boat operators, and encouraging coastal residents to engage with the blue economy,” Orivri said.
Highlighting workforce development, Engr. Richard Owolabi of the Abuja MoU delivered a keynote address on the role of technology in closing the skills gap in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
His paper, Training and Development : Investing Maritime Workforce Development to Bridge the Skills Gap in the Face of Emerging Technologies,” sparked important discussions around Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the need to enhance Nigeria’s seafarer training programmes.
Owolabi also advocated for reforms in the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), greater support for the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, and urgent solutions to the persistent lack of sea-time training for cadets.
In his closing remarks, President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt. Tajudeen Alao, praised the centre’s leadership for actualizing a shared dream of creating a space akin to the Aviation Industry Roundtable but for mariners.
He also called for the establishment of Nigeria-based Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs, to address insurance gaps and enhance maritime risk management.
The event drew prominent stakeholders including former NAMM Presidents Capt. Ade Olopoenia and Capt. Adewale Ishola; MTS Lagos official Capt. Ihenancho Ebubeogu; AMES Secretary Engr. Kato Abuja; Engr. Akeem Oderinde; and Engr. John Oguntokun, among others.
With its official debut, the Waterside Centre stands poised to become a cornerstone in Nigeria’s maritime evolution—offering a space where experience meets innovation, and tradition fuels future progress.
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