Technology-driven reforms and operational innovations in Nigeria’s maritime and trade facilitation ecosystem will take centre stage at the 2026 Maritime Training Summit of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), scheduled for September 4 in Lagos.
The summit, which will be held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, from 10:00 a.m., will be centered around the theme, “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.”
The event is expected to bring together policymakers, regulators, government agencies, maritime professionals, port and shipping operators, academics, technology experts and other stakeholders to examine how innovation can transform Nigeria’s maritime workforce and strengthen the country’s blue economy.
A major highlight will be a presentation by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on “An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations.”
AMJON said the choice of the Customs Service for a major presentation reflects the growing influence of technology and innovation on trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation, border management and national economic security.
The Association noted that the NCS has, in recent years, introduced a number of technology-driven and operational reforms, including the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu, as well as its synchronisation with the National Single Window initiative.
According to AMJON, the reforms have significantly changed the way customs operations are conducted, with digitalisation increasingly becoming central to cargo clearance, trade facilitation, revenue collection and enforcement.
Other innovations within the Service expected to receive attention at the summit include the Time Release Study, designed to identify bottlenecks and facilitate faster clearance of goods; the One Stop Shop approach for harmonising the operations of various units; and the deployment of drones for geospatial border surveillance.
The summit will examine how such innovations can be sustained, replicated and integrated into a broader maritime human capital development strategy.
AMJON said Nigeria’s ability to maximise the opportunities presented by its blue economy depends not only on its coastal advantage and marine resources but also on the availability of highly skilled indigenous manpower capable of deploying modern technologies across the maritime value chain.
The Association noted that the maritime industry, covering ports, shipping, logistics, fisheries, offshore energy, shipbuilding and repairs and emerging blue economy activities, requires continuous training, retraining and professional development to remain competitive.
Discussions at the summit are expected to focus on digital transformation of maritime operations, artificial intelligence and automation, future maritime skills, workforce reskilling and upskilling, maritime safety and security, technology-driven customs administration, port digitalisation, indigenous manpower development and innovation in maritime education.
Stakeholders will also examine the role of public-private partnerships, regulatory agencies and training institutions in developing a workforce capable of responding to emerging technologies and evolving global maritime standards.
The summit is expected to attract senior government officials, heads of maritime agencies, representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, shipping and port operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders, customs brokers, maritime training institutions, academics, technology companies and other players in the blue economy.
AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit was designed to stimulate practical conversations around the future of maritime training and ensure that Nigeria’s workforce keeps pace with technological developments reshaping the global maritime industry.
She said the Association considered innovation-driven capacity development critical to ensuring that Nigeria does not merely possess maritime resources but develops the human capacity required to convert those resources into sustainable economic value.
The summit will also provide a platform for maritime journalists to deepen their understanding of emerging technologies, regulatory developments and operational reforms within the industry, thereby strengthening specialised reporting and public awareness of the maritime sector.
AMJON said it expects the summit to generate practical recommendations that will support the development of a future-ready maritime workforce and contribute to Nigeria’s broader efforts to maximise the economic potential of the blue economy.