Nigerian maritime youths under the auspices of the Annual Maritime Students and Youth (AMSAY) Conference are set to honour two late icons of Nigeria’s maritime sector, Otunba Kunle Folarin and Hon. Dr. Chris Asoluka, with posthumous awards in recognition of their enduring contributions to capacity building and youth development.
The posthumous honours will be conferred at the 10th edition of the AMSAY Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 10, 2026, as part of activities marking the conference’s 10th anniversary milestones.
According to Platforms Communications, the organisers, the awards are in acknowledgement of the duo’s lifetime commitment to career mentorship and the advancement of Nigerian maritime students and youths through capacity building.
Late Dr. Chris Asoluka, former Chairman of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Lekki, will be honoured as Maritime Most Profound Eloquent Speaker, while late Otunba Kunle Folarin, former Chairman of the Ports Consultative Council, will be recognised as Nigerian Maritime Encyclopedia.
Speaking ahead of the event, Convener of AMSAY Conference, Mr Sylvanus stated that both men played significant roles in the early years of the AMSAY Conference and deserved to be so honoured by the initiative they conscientiously nutured.
According to Obasi, “I recall that at the maiden edition in 2016, Dr. Asoluka delivered the lead paper presentation titled “How Nations Develop Their Maritime Sector,” while Otunba Folarin presented a paper on “A New National Carrier In The Offing: Lessons From The Rise and Fall Of NNSL.”
“Their contributions continued at the 2018 edition, where Dr. Asoluka again delivered the lead paper on “The Local Content Act, The Cabotage Act and Everything In-Between: How Beneficial To Nigerian Youth?” Otunba Folarin also inspired the participating youths with a motivating speech as Father of the Day.”
Obasi further revealed that beyond their intellectual inputs, both late maritime leaders were instrumental to the program’s instant success as they provided strategic guidance, shared valuable ideas, and leveraged their contacts and networks to ensure the programme’s success in its formative years.
Recall that Otunba Kunle Folarin died on November 8th 2022, few weeks to his 82nd birthday. He was the Chairman of Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) as well as Chairman of National Seafarers Welfare Board.
While Dr Chris Asoluka, a respected development and strategy consultant (FIMC), who has played very important roles in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and politics, particularly in the area of policy development and implementation in the maritime sector passed away on May 10, 2025 at the age of 70.
The posthumous awards to be presented by Platforms Communications is expected to serve as a reminder of their legacies and inspire a new generation of maritime professionals to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The AMSAY Conference has over the years evolved into a leading platform for mentoring and engaging young marine professionals who are desirous of contributing their quota towards the development of Nigerian maritime sector, and 10th Anniversary edition is expected to draw participants from across the sector.
