Industry leaders, regulators and investors in the maritime sector are expected to converge in Lagos on September 24, 2026, for the fifth Annual Lecture and Awards of The New Experience Newspaper.
The event, which will also mark the newspaper’s ninth anniversary, is scheduled to hold at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, from 11:00am.
The 2026 edition is themed “Blue Economy in Action: Financing, Innovation and Policy for Nigeria’s Maritime Future.”
According to the organisers, the lecture will focus on practical measures to attract investment, promote innovation and develop policy frameworks capable of unlocking the economic potential of Nigeria’s maritime resources.
A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, will chair the occasion and deliver a career talk titled “Challenges and the Future of the NNPC.”
Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of The New Experience Newspaper, Prince Benson Davies, said the annual lecture was established to move discussions on Nigeria’s maritime sector from identifying its potential to implementing practical solutions.
Davies said the newspaper had, over the past nine years, remained committed to factual reporting, amplifying industry voices and contributing to national development.
He stressed the need for increased financing, innovation and effective policies to position Nigeria’s blue economy for global competitiveness.
The programme will feature a keynote address, panel discussion, award presentations and a photo exhibition showcasing nine years of the newspaper’s activities and impact in the maritime and trade sectors.
The 2026 awards will recognise outstanding contributions across the maritime industry, with categories including Maritime CEO of the Year, Best Government Agency in Maritime Regulation, Outstanding Terminal Operator, Innovation in Maritime Technology Award, Maritime Security Partner Award, Blue Economy Champion Award, Media Partner of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lead partners and sponsors for the event include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), SIFAX Group, SAHCO PLC and Nigeria Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA).
Other supporters include Radio 103.5FM, Metro 97.7FM and Bond 92.9FM, alongside stakeholders from the maritime, aviation and crime reporting sectors.
Reflecting on the newspaper’s journey, Davies recalled that its second Annual Lecture, held in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, attracted more than 800 guests and focused on public understanding of the coronavirus pandemic and conspiracy theories.
He urged maritime stakeholders, government officials, media partners and members of the public to attend the ninth anniversary celebration and annual lecture.
Davies said the newspaper’s commitment to providing credible information and promoting industry development remained unchanged, regardless of the venue of its annual gathering.
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