By INIOBONG SUNDAY, Uyo
Experts and other stakeholders in the maritime sector were unanimous in their commendation of the commitment of Governor Umo Eno towards the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport and the larger Ibom Industrial City.
Speaking at a workshop held at the Dakkada Towers, Uyo, the state capital over the weekend on the theme: ‘Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Blue Economy Value Chain in Akwa Ibom State for Productivity and Sustainable Growth’, resource persons, industry leaders and other participants, said the passion which Governor Eno has brought to bear on the project would accelerate the socio-economic development of the state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Ibom Deep Seaport, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, noted that while the administration of Pastor Eno, was diligently working to bring Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City to reality, it was important to ensure that Akwa Ibom people remain prepared and well-positioned to be active players in the maritime sector.
“Currently, Lagos and Rivers States are the 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”, he said, adding that “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 sensitisation workshop.
“Success only happens when opportunity meets with preparation. Opportunities are always around, but only the prepared minds are those who see the opportunity when it happens; that is why the seminar is organised.
Ibom Deep Seaport and Ibom Industrial City will bring opportunities; we want our people to be prepared so that when this administration actualises these projects, our people can be at the forefront of reaping the benefits”, he said.
Speaking on maritime logistics, the President of Brightflow Conglomerate, Dr. Aniefiok Iton noted that the maritime sector held immense potential, and that if harnessed properly, its impact could surpass that of oil exploration, adding that the maritime industry is a vital component of global trade, which 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 explained.
Dr Iton, who said it was important to recognise that every sector has its own language and as such, gaining insights and knowledge will help in navigating the sector effectively, disclosed that the objective of the workshop was to develop skills for economic diversification in the maritime industry.
“Maritime industry, while serving as a major artery in connecting people, products and services, the industry is exceptionally equipped with potentials to 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”, she stressed.
On his part, the Rector, Marine and Oceans Academy, Nigeria, Dr. Kingsley Ekwere, stressed that; “there is a need for 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”.
Also speaking, a lecturer at Maritime Academy, Nigeria, Dr. Friday Ufia, noted that while maritime trade was the exchange of goods and services across the oceans and seas, the logistics was about customer service, disclosing that there are 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 hosting of the Maritime Academy to get trained on how we can benefit from the Ibom Deep Seaport as owners of the port”.
In his presentation, the Director of Projects, Technical Committee on Ibom Deep Seaport, Prof. Akaninyene Ekong, said that maritime activities are open to professionals from all fields, offering vast opportunities across sectors, adding that it was encouraging to see that, at the national level, bold steps have been 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”.
According to Prof. 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”.
Highlighting the commitment of the Governor Umo Eno-led administration towards the realisation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project, the Acting Director, Centre for Automotive Training, Transport and Logistics, CATTL, Akwa Ibom State University, Engr. Godwin Ekong, 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”.