A Master Mariner and Nautical Surveyor at Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Captain Kunle Olaiwola has bagged the Fellowship award of the Nautical Institute, United Kingdom.
He is the first Nigerian to bag the institute’s Fellowship.
The Nautical Institute is the global body of maritime professionals. It encourages, supports and celebrates a diverse and inclusive maritime industry, including gender, race, ethnicity and age.
The 50-year old institute represents the best of what the shipping industry has to offer in terms of dedication to professionalism around the world. It maintains a non-governmental organisation with consultative status at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Captain Olaiwola is a retired naval officer having served on the Nigerian Navy from January 1983 to April 1994. A specialist in radar plotting and electronic warfare, he sailed on various warships and stone frigates, and engaged on flag showing tour/peace-keeping mission during his years in the navy. He was decorated with several military medals for his meritorious service to the country.
He has attended several professional trainings in various institutions within and outside Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore Maritime Academy and Lloyds Maritime Academy, London. He is also an alumnus of the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmo, Sweden, where he obtained an LLM.
An alumnus of Kofi Anna Peace Keeping Institute, Accra Ghana, Olaiwola obtained his professional sailing licenses namely Class 3 (Deck Officer) Certificate of Competency, Class 2 (Deck Officer) Certificate of Competency and Class 1 Master Mariner at the Maritime Port Authority Singapore.
He has sailed on board various international ships including general cargo ships, crude/product oil tankers, Anchor Handling Tug boats, FPS0s and containerships.
He rose through the ranks to take command as a ship captain onboard ocean going and coastal ships during his sailing days.
The seasoned Master Marine worked in various organisations in United Arab Emirate, Singapore, Malaysia, Nigeria, Angola and the United Kingdom.
He has experienced sailing across Asia, Africa, Micronesia, South America, Baltic, Bay Bengal and Europe.
The Nautical Institute fellowship was conferred on him in London in December 2021.
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