Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has described the Public Sector Maritime Icon Award given to him recently by Vanguard Newspaper as a challenge to selflessly work harder in the interest of Nigeria and humanity.
He commended Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspaper for finding him worthy of the award noting that the recognition is a call for him to increase his level of service to the nation. According to him, whatever was being done that attracted the accolades and honour to him and NIMASA under his leadership will be improved upon to make all Nigerians and Vanguard Newspaper proud.
Dr. Jamoh promised to sustain the good works of NIMASA which has manifested in inter agency and international collaboration against piracy and other maritime offences leading to all-time reduction in vessel and crew attacks while commending members of the NIMASA board, Executive Management Team and all staff of the agency for their contributions to the success stories the nation’s foremost maritime administration has been associated with.
He assured stakeholders that in months to come, the agency in the performance of its statutory functions would scale up activities to achieve more in the nation’s maritime industry. In his words, “This calls for more work, more tasks, and more sustainable success. We have so many things in place, and God willing, within the coming months, we have to double up our efforts to justify this award.
“It is a challenge, and whatever we did before that impressed the selection committee, now we have to double our efforts. For me, I don’t see the award as just an award in name, but as a challenge. The essence of leadership wherever you go is to make a difference to the people and the society, so if your position of leadership cannot change dimensions, then the essence of leadership is far from being achieved
“The Vanguard Newspaper recognised our efforts because there are some impacts and changes, but there are so many areas in which we need to do more, which we must be able to do in the coming months. So we need to double our efforts” he said shortly after receiving his award plaque and certificate.”
Notable maritime stakeholders who witnesses the ceremony agreed that the NIMASA DG has worked hard within a short period to justify the honour.
Prominent ship-owner, Margaret Orakwusi, described Dr. Jamoh as someone who took over the mantle of leadership at NIMASA with three decades of experience in the sector and sound maritime academic background which he has deployed to productive benefits for the Nigerian maritime sector.
Other stakeholders who identified with Dr. Jamoh for the honour include: Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority; two former Directors General of NIMASA – Dr. Ade Dosunmu and Dr. Dakuku Peterside; President Nigerian Shipowners Association, Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung,; President Alumni Association of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO), Emmanuel Maiguwa, and President General of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Adewale Adeyanju.
Since his assumption of office, Dr. Jamoh has won several awards including the 2020 Zik Prize in Public Policy.
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