CITIZENS COMPASS— The stage is set for a landmark gathering in Nigeria’s maritime sector as stakeholders converge in Abuja for the presentation of the “Most Media Friendly Maritime CEO” Award to the Immediate Past Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, in recognition of his outstanding relationship with the maritime media and commitment to transparent governance.
The award ceremony, themed “The Making of Oyebamiji,” will be held on Tuesday, February 10, in Abuja, and is expected to attract top government officials, captains of industry, regulators, and media leaders.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola will lead other dignitaries to the event, alongside the Chairman of the NIWA Board, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, CFR, and senior government functionaries. An appreciable number of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists are also expected to attend.
During his tenure in office, Oyebamiji distinguished himself as a reform-minded administrator with an uncommon appreciation of the media as strategic partners in sector development. His leadership has been defined by openness, accessibility, and institutional respect for journalists, setting a new benchmark for regulator–media engagement within the maritime industry.
A major highlight of his relationship with the press is his deliberate focus on journalists’ welfare and professionalism. Under his watch, NIWA has enhanced the media work environment by providing operational tools, institutional support, and access frameworks that enable reporters to function effectively and responsibly across the inland waterways space.
Beyond office engagement, Oyebamiji had consistently supported media tours of NIWA operational areas, giving journalists first-hand exposure to water transport infrastructure, safety operations, channel management, and regulatory activities. These tours have helped deepen reporters’ understanding of inland waterways administration, ensuring that industry narratives are driven by facts, field experience, and informed analysis.
Veteran maritime Journalist and Chairman of the Coalition, Frank Meke in a reflection on Oyebamiji’s leadership style, noted that the NIWA boss “does not see the media as an enemy, but as a partner in national development.” Refreshing that position, Meke observed that Oyebamiji’s openness has “rebuilt confidence between regulators and reporters, allowing professionalism and access to information to define maritime reporting.”
According to him, the NIWA CEO has created an atmosphere where journalists are treated as stakeholders whose engagement strengthens safety, accountability, and policy implementation on Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The Abuja ceremony is being described as an A-list maritime industry event and strategically significant, as it becomes the first major sectoral gathering since the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Stakeholders believe the event will help consolidate collaboration between government, operators, regulators, and the maritime press under the new ministry’s emerging policy direction.
With policymakers, industry leaders, and the media community converging, the presentation of the “Most Media Friendly Maritime CEO” Award to Oyebamiji is expected to go beyond celebration, serving as a statement of alignment between transparent leadership and the future of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy.
As anticipation builds, the maritime industry views the event as recognition not only of Oyebamiji’s leadership, but also of the growing importance of the media in shaping a safer, more accountable, and economically viable inland waterways sector.
