SOAN looks to greater industry engagement as new Executive Council is inaugurated

Share this

Cutting of the celebration cake

The Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN)
is hopeful for more engaging periods with various key stakeholders in the
maritime industry as it inaugurates its new President, Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung, and
other executive members to steer the association’s affairs for the next two
years.

Chief Adebayo Sarumi, Chairman of the occasion

Speaking at the event, which held on
Friday, April 12, at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, Chairman of
the occasion and maritime expert, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, extolled the association
for tenaciously engaging the industry, staying focused on its plans and making remarkable
impact.

He added that as the association had shown
integrity from the onset, it should continue and be ready to establish more
impacting success stories for the benefit of the shipping sub-sector,
particularly in showcasing the capability of Nigerians to doing it right in the
sector.

“You
have been able to convince the stakeholders, particularly the IOCs that
Nigerians can indeed run shipping companies and run them better. I am indeed
proud of all of you.

“I want to let the stakeholders know that
they have only seen a tip of the iceberg in terms of service rendition by these
very illustrious Nigerians. I know where we were five years ago and I know
where we are today. I can assure you that we are going to go farther, we are
going to go much better than we are today.”

In a goodwill message, the Rector, Maritime
Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Commodore Emma Effedua (rtd.) appreciated SOAN
for its continued support to the academy.

He said he was particularly impressed by
the fact that the association remained strong in a collective resolve to
maintain an association in spite of challenges they may have faced.

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun

The Rector seized the opportunity to
formally invite the new president and his team to go on a facility tour of the
academy and to also be able to share professional advice and experiences with
the school as he wished the new executive council “fair winds and calm waters
on your new endeavours.”

In her own message, Chairman of the Ship
Owners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, said it was dignifying to be part of a
highly recognised body of ship owners who have in less than five years proven a
worth in service provision in the maritime industry.

She said: “It has come to be a reference
point, when anybody speaks about ship in this country, our voice must stand out.
It shows the integrity of members of the association.”

Overwhelmed by emotions of fulfillment, the
immediate-past president of the association, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, appreciated
the media for a robust reportage of the events and activities of SOAN from
inception till date, and appealed that the media continued on that note.

He encouraged the members of the
association to remain supportive and committed to the good works the
association is known for, while working for greater marks of excellence
in its dealings in the industry.

His words: “The journey was not easy but we
stayed focused. Our objective and mission was very clear; to establish an
association of shipowners that would stand in a place of support to our
industry and our country.

“The maritime and shipping industry will amount
to nothing if there are no ships. There would be no ships if there are no
shipowners . Therefore, the place of a viable association of shipowners in this
country and the economy is of utmost importance.

“I thank particularly the shipowners who
have taken a position to ensure that this association stays alive. As it stands
today, the association enjoys national and international recognition.

“I implore the incoming executive to continue
in the direction we have been coming, to make the association an asset to the
agencies of the industry, to the key stakeholders, the IOCs, who are principal
clients upstream and other players downstream, and continue to engage with
various levels of governance because without you, they may have policies, but
they may not be able to implement those policies.”

Speaking, the new President of SOAN,
Mkgeorge Onyung, pledged to carry on in greater strides what the association
has been notable for; purposeful engagement with key industry stakeholders for
enterprise growth and remarkable position in the industry.

“We will sit down understand the problem
very well and engage the stakeholders collectively, continuously to ensure
negotiations and dialogue in non-confrontational manner,” Onyung said.

The new Executive Council has Dr.
MkGeorge Onyung as President, Eno Williams is First Vice President, and Sonny Eja- Second Vice President.

The other members of the Executive Council are Babalola
Adefarati, Iroghama Obuoforibo, Wisdom Nwagwu, Rotarian Lucky Akhiwu, Dr. Luis
Ekere, and Gbolahan Shaba.