AMJON Summit: NSML, NPA to lead dialogue on Future-Ready Maritime Training

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Key players in Nigeria’s maritime industry are set to converge in Lagos for the 2026 Maritime Training Summit and Awards of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), with regulators, policymakers, industry operators and other stakeholders expected to deliberate on the future of maritime training and human capital development.

The summit, organised by AMJON in collaboration with NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), will hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, with proceedings scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m.

Themed “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda,” the event will focus on how innovation, technology and skills development can strengthen Nigeria’s maritime workforce and position the sector to maximise emerging opportunities in the blue economy.

According to AMJON, NSML, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other leading maritime organisations will make presentations at the summit, alongside industry experts and policymakers.

The presentations are expected to examine emerging technologies, evolving regulatory requirements and operational changes shaping the global maritime industry, while exploring practical approaches to developing a workforce capable of responding to the sector’s changing demands.

AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit was designed to move discussions on maritime training beyond conventional approaches and stimulate practical conversations on preparing Nigerian professionals for the future.

She said innovation-driven capacity development was essential to enabling Nigeria to translate its considerable maritime resources into sustainable economic value.

According to the president, having maritime resources alone is insufficient without the skilled human capital required to harness them effectively.

She added that the summit would also strengthen specialised maritime journalism by exposing journalists to emerging technologies, regulatory developments and operational reforms within the industry.

Osokpo said better-informed maritime journalists would be better positioned to provide accurate and insightful reporting, thereby improving public understanding of the sector and its contribution to the Nigerian economy.

AMJON said discussions at the summit would also examine contemporary challenges and opportunities across the maritime sector, with emphasis on developments that could influence Nigeria’s competitiveness and blue economy ambitions.

The Association expressed optimism that the deliberations would generate practical recommendations for strengthening maritime training, closing emerging skills gaps and building a future-ready workforce.

The summit will also feature an awards ceremony to recognise organisations, institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

Among the organisations listed for recognition are NSML, NPA and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), alongside other deserving stakeholders and individuals.

AMJON said the honourees were selected based on established standards of excellence and rigorous evaluation, with emphasis on measurable contributions, achievements, professionalism and commitment to the development of the maritime sector and the nation.

The Association said the combination of the training summit and awards would provide an opportunity not only to examine the future of the industry but also to celebrate stakeholders whose efforts are contributing to its growth.