Conference Targets Maritime Skills Gap

Nigeria’s maritime sector still struggles with a widening skills gap, weak links between industry and universities, and limited spaces for youth to shape policy — problems that organisers said the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference intends to tackle.

Hosted by the Maritime Forum, University of Lagos, in partnership with SIFAX Group, the two-day conference, scheduled for July 20–21, 2026, will bring together more than 2,000 participants from government, academia, industry, and the media. Marking a decade of student-led engagement, this anniversary edition uses the theme “Ten Tides of Impact: Raising a Generation to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Blue Giant” and reframes celebration as a push for measurable solutions.

Organisers list three core priorities. First, closing the skills and capacity shortfall by aligning university curricula with employer needs, promoting practical training models, and scaling upskilling programmes to ensure graduates are job-ready for ports, shipping, and logistics roles. Second, formalising industry–academia collaboration through internships, joint research and industry-funded training labs that create predictable talent pipelines.

Third, amplifying student voices in policy debates by expanding platforms like the Blueprint Debate Competition and creating mentorship, leadership tracks and student representation in advisory processes.

Speakers include senior regulators and sector leaders: Dr Emeka Akabogu and Dr Dayo Mobereola from NIMASA, University of Lagos Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi, WISTA Nigeria’s Dr. Odunayo Ani, and representatives from the Danish Consulate and other maritime organisations.

Dare Tunde Damilola, president of the Maritime Forum, described the conference as a legacy platform meant to convert dialogue into concrete initiatives — proposed outputs include formal internship frameworks, industry-funded skills centres at universities, a student–industry advisory council, and policy briefs for regulators.

Organisers plan a TAAM10 communique summarising commitments and a prioritised road map for skills development and youth inclusion. The real test, they say, will be whether regulators and private sector partners turn those commitments into funded programmes and measurable outcomes.