Retired Nigerian Naval officer wins The British Alexander Dalrymple Award

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Committee has selected Retired Rear Admiral CE Okafor of the Nigerian Navy as the Recipient of the 2023 Alexander Dalrymple Award.

Okafor was recognized for his outstanding contributions and worthy efforts in developing Nigeria’s national hydrographic capacity which culminated in making Nigeria the first country in West Africa to produce an indigenous International navigational chart in paper and electronic format, as well as the development of a national hydrographic survey fleet with full charting capability.

Accordingly, the retired rear admiral was honoured on Tuesday 16 April 2024, as he received the prestigious Alexander Dalrymple Award for 2023 in London, England.

The Alexander Dalrymple award was initiated by the UK Government in 2006 in honour of UK’s First Hydrographer, appointed by the Royal Navy in 1795. Since then, the award is presented annually as part of UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO’s) World Hydrography Day celebration, by UK’s Ministry of Defence to recipients selected by a diligent Committee.

The recipient is usually selected from many nominees from different nations. These nominees must have contributed significantly to improving the standards of hydrography, cartography and navigational safety.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla, and all the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy  have sent their heartily congratulates to one of theirs who has made Nigeria proud through his contribution to building hydrography capacity locally and globally.