Nigeria’s Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has been elected as Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) at the 16th Extra Ordinary Session of the body in Accra, Ghana.
SHIPS & PORTS reportedly exclusively on September 2, 2021 that Adalikwu would be elected to the position unopposed in November after an initial controversy that trailed the fielding of overage candidates by Guinea and Republic of Benin in August.
Nigeria walked out of the first election in August due to observed irregularities.
Adalikwu, was unanimously accepted by transport ministers of MOWCA member states, and would oversee the affairs of the organisation for the next four years from its headquarters in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.
In his acceptance speech, Adalikwu thanked the 25 MOWCA countries for their support, assuring them of running the body in line with the dictates of the founding fathers.
He also pledged his commitment to mobilise all countries in West and Central Africa to maximise their maritime potential for their individual economic growth and collective interest of all.
“It is with utmost respect and emotion that I address you on my success at the just concluded election that has placed on me the onerous task of piloting the affairs of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in the next four years.
“I wish to most sincerely thank the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for presenting and seeking the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari that I be presented as Nigeria’s candidate for the post of Secretary-General of a regional organisation that controls maritime activities in 25 countries of the West and Central Africa sub-region.
“My warmest regards to Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Transportation. She has doggedly championed the campaign activities in her capacity as the chairperson of Nigeria’s Election Planning Committee. Senator Saraki, indeed, proved herself the amazon: resolute and resilient, never giving up and never getting tired even when it appeared that the election was taking a nosedive,” he said.
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