The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) is in a mourning mood as one of its founding fathers, Capt. Solomon Abiodun Omoteso died on Monday after a protracted illness.
NAMM President, Capt. Ade Olopoenia said Omoteso, who passed on at the age of 72, would be deeply missed by the association and the entire maritime industry. He described the late Master Mariner as very passionate towards manpower development for the maritime industry.
Speaking in the same vein with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY, immediate past president of the association and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, His Royal Highness, Oba (Captain) Adejimi Adu said he was deeply saddened by Omoteso’s death. He said he was a cadet on Omoteso’s ship several years ago. The monarch prayed for the repose of the late mariner’s soul.
Other past presidents of NAMM namely Capt. Niyi Adeyemo and Capt. Adewale Ishola who also spoke with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY both expressed sadness over Omoteso’s death.
Omoteso 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).
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
