In a testament to the enduring bonds between the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) and the maritime community, the association will on Thursday (tomorrow) in Lagos, honour Mr. Ubong Essien, former Special Assistant on Communications and Strategy to the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for his outstanding leadership qualities and sterling performance during his three year tour of duty at the agency.
The AMJON 2023 Conference/Awards, slated to hold on Thursday at Rockview Hotel Apapa, Lagos, will honour outstanding individuals and key spokespersons from Nigerian maritime industry agencies and other allied bodies. The event which is set to bring together most important personalities in the industry will feature paper presentations by NPA, NIMASA, Customs, NIWA and Chief Tony Iju Nwabunike, former president of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and pioneer chairman of Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
The main theme of this year’s event is “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Economy Towards a Viable Trans-border Trade.”
According to Paul Ogbuokiri, president of AMJON, Mr. Essien’s commendable attitude, marked by respect and a willingness to support maritime journalists across board was instrumental to a very stable Jamoh administration. “His proactive approach and dedication to foster positive relations between the media and regulatory bodies has not gone unnoticed.”
Ogbuokiri further said, “Despite the fact that Mr. Essien has moved on from his role at NIMASA and no longer holds sway over the agency’s publicity and media relationship, AMJON recognizes that it is at this juncture he should be appreciated for who he is, just a very good man, a thoroughbred professional and a moral compass.”
Also speaking, Chairman of AMJON Conference Planning Committee, Mr. Innocent Orok said, “The decision to honour Mr. Ubong Essien took shape when he came to the forefront of AMJON’s collective consciousness. The president of the association, struck by Mr. Essien’s positive impact, took the initiative to contact him directly for the award. Expressing gratitude for his past support, our president informed him of the association’s intention to present him with a well-deserved award.
“In a heartening turn of events, Mr. Essien responded with receptivity and appreciation for the recognition. This interaction not only reinforces the positive relationship between AMJON and Mr. Essien also underscores the importance of acknowledging and celebrating individuals who have contributed significantly to fostering collaboration within the maritime sector,” Mr. Orok said.