Tribute to Late Captain Oyeniyi Oluwole Adeyemo
The maritime industry in Nigeria, on Monday got the news of the passing away of one of its finest master mariners, Captain Oyeniyi Adeyemo, who was aged 85 years.
Capt. Oyeniyi Oluwole Adeyemo was born in Gbongon, in Osun State.
He had his primary school education in St. Paul School Gbongon between 1945- 1953. He then attended Government College, Ibadan, between 1953 and graduated in Grade 1, in 1958.
He worked with the Barclays Bank DCO (now Union Bank of Nigeria) between 1959 & 1960, and went on to obtain the Nigerian Ports Authority Scholarship in 1960 to study Navigation.
He joined Palm Line in 1960 as Deck Cadet, where he served till 1964 when he was promoted 4th Officer. He went on to King Edward VII Nautical College in London, where he obtained 2nd Mates Certificate of Competency (foreign going).
The young Adeyemo joined the Nigerian National Shipping Line as 3rd officer in 1965. He went back to Sir John Cass College/ City of London College in 1966 for First Mates Certificate of Competency (foreign going). Later, he joined the United Oriented Shipping Line Pakistan in 1967 as Chief Officer, where he served until December 1968.
He went back to School at University of Southampton (School of Navigation WARSASH) in 1969, for Master’s Certificate of Competency (foreign going) in same year.
He joined the Nigerian National Shipping Line first as Chief Officer, as Master until 1974, when shore beckoned. He joined Henry Stephen’s Group in 1974, first as Operations Manager, and later as Assistant General Manger.
He moved on to join the National Cargo Handling Company Ltd (Federal Government owned) in 1976, first as operation and subsequently as General Manager. He left in 1988 to establish his own Company “PLANIC MARINE” Consultants, Surveyors and Fleet Managers.
His professional qualifications include; Master Mariner (Foreign-going), Fellow, Institute of Navigation; Member, Nautical Institute.
Capt. Adeyemo served in the following capacities at various times; President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners; Associate- Yinka Omilani & Associate; Executive Director- International Nautical Consultants; Chairman- Plandale UK. Ltd; Principal Partner- Planic Marine; Board Member- National Inland waterways Authority (NIWA); Director- Capricon Marine Services Ltd; Director- Valverde Maritime Ltd.
He also served in various roles as Chairman- National Association of Dock Labour Employers (NADALE); Chairman- International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (Ichca); Member- Marine Board of Inquiry into the Sinking of “MV Rivergurara”; Chairman- Committee of the Proposed Merger of National Maritime Authority and Marine Inspectorate Division of the Federal Ministry of Transport; Chairman – Sub Committee on Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Reduction of Ports and Shipping Company Charges; Chairman- Lagos Ports Consultative Committee, and Member – Review Panel on National Shipping Policy Decree.
