Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar and Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) are among notable dignitaries who have signified interest to grace the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN). The association, which is an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), was established in 1988. It is an umbrella of accredited journalists who are reporting maritime activities.
Obasanjo, whose port reform programme led to the concession of terminal operations at the nation’s seaports in 2006, is expected to chair the grand finale of the anniversary celebration slated for December 12, 2013 at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja.
Obasanjo, whose port reform programme led to the concession of terminal operations at the nation’s seaports in 2006, is expected to chair the grand finale of the anniversary celebration slated for December 12, 2013 at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja.
The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, is the Special Guest of Honour at the event while Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, will deliver the anniversary lecture.
MARAN President, Mr. Bolaji Akinola, explained that the event was being targeted at drawing the attention of the Federal Government on the need to further exploit and harness the potentials in the maritime sector.
Akinola said part of the programmes preceding the celebration would include visit to a motherless homes, novelty football march to entertain friends and well-wishers of MARAN and a thanksgiving service to be held both in a church and a mosque.
He implored past presidents of the association, friends and well-wishers who have been around since 1988 to send in their nominations for recognition of those that actually made outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the maritime sector within the period.
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