The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to technology-driven port development, stressing that human capital development must remain at the heart of innovation.
The Authority stated this at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), held in Lagos on Friday.
Delivering the presentation on behalf of the NPA, Adebowale Lawal, Port Manager, Lagos Port Complex, said the theme, “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda,” was timely and strategic, given the profound transformation taking place in the maritime industry.
He said digitalisation, artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics and logistics systems were reshaping the maritime sector, adding that innovation was increasingly essential to preparing Nigeria’s ports for the future.
Lawal said the NPA had continued to embrace technology to improve efficiency, transparency, safety and service delivery, citing the electronic call-up system, electronic access to data, digital revenue systems, vessel management platforms and the ongoing development of a Port Community System.
He added that the Authority was also advancing the Nigerian Single Window initiative to facilitate greater integration and exchange of information among stakeholders.
However, Lawal stressed that technology without the right people would not deliver the desired transformation.
He said the NPA had invested in human capital development through its training infrastructure, including the Port Training Institute and simulation facilities at Dockyard in Lagos.
According to him, future maritime training must produce professionals who are not only technologically competent but also innovative, adaptable, digitally intelligent and capable of solving emerging challenges.
He said training must prepare maritime professionals for smart ports, automation, increased connectivity, cybersecurity, green shipping and data-driven decision-making.
Lawal commended AMJON for placing innovation at the centre of the summit, saying the gathering provided an opportunity for government, industry, training institutions and other stakeholders to rethink how to develop the human capital required to make Nigeria’s maritime sector globally competitive.
“Let us be reminded that innovation is not only about machines and technology, but it is also about people, ideas and the courage to do better things,” he said.
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