One of the nation’s foremost master mariners, Capt. Solomon Abiodun Omoteso is dead. He died on Monday after a protracted illness.
He was the Director of African Maritime Events Limited and a Marine Consultant.
Born on the 24th December 1943 in Mopa, Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Omoteso attended King Edward VII Nautical School in London for his pre-sea training from 1963 to 1964.
He also did all maritime courses leading to issuance of Class I Master Mariner Certificate of Competence in Liverpool and had his practical sea training with Elder Depster Line from 1963 to 1968 and the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) in 1984.
He held a Class 1 (Master Mariner) Certificate of Competence, 1976 and Diploma in International Labour Organization (ILO) Port Workers Development Programme 2003.
He was a facilitator during the International Maritime Organization (IMO) preparatory meetings on the establishment of Port State Control for West and Central African in 1996; facilitator for the establishment of African Maritime Pilots Association in Dakar, Senegal 2010 and Organised African Manning and Training Conference in Abuja 2005 and Ghana 2009. He served as Acting Managing Director of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) in 1990.
In 1992, Omoteso voluntarily retired from the NNSL. Between July 1992 and 2001 he was the Managing Director of East West Coast Marine Services Limited – a maritime firm engaged in shipping, agency, consultancy and international ship chandling.
He consulted for several organisations including the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron; Nigerian Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Ports Authority and the defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC).
He was a Training Consultant to Lagos Channel Management and Landfall Towage Nigeria Limited and Chairman Technical Committee of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM).
President of NAMM, Capt. Ade Olopoenina, who confirmed the death to SHIPS & PORTS DAILY via telephone, said Omoteso would be missed for his numerous contributions to the development of the maritime industry.
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