MARAN Set to Inaugurate New Executive Council June 23; Eyes Revival of Ethical Maritime Reporting

Nifemi Coker

The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), the country’s premier maritime media body, has finalized plans to inaugurate its newly elected Executive Council on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

The high-profile event, scheduled to take place at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos will serve as a vanguard platform for a renewed industry-wide conversation on media ethics and sector development.

With the theme “Upholding Ethical Journalism for Maritime Development,” the inauguration is poised to gather the upper echelon of the nation’s shipping, logistics, security, and blue economy regulators.

The event will feature a robust lineup of key industry leaders and policymakers, reflecting the critical intersection between the maritime press and sectoral progress.

A statement shared by the association noted that Emmanuel Maiguwa Gankino, President of the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), will chair the occasion, while Mr. Bolaji Abimbola, a renowned public relations and event management strategist, is slated to deliver the keynote address.

MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, described the upcoming inauguration as a pivotal milestone aimed at restoring robust professionalism and credibility to maritime reportage.

“The maritime industry is central to Nigeria’s economic growth, and ethical journalism remains a vital instrument for ensuring that developments within the sector are accurately reported and constructively engaged,” Onigbinde stated.

He emphasized that under his administration, the new executive council will aggressively pursue capacity-building initiatives to equip journalists with the specialized knowledge required to analyze complex maritime policies.

Onigbinde also called for closer collaboration between the media, government agencies, and private operators to foster transparency and accelerate Nigeria’s evolving blue economy aspirations.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola will attend the event as the Special Guests of Honour. Also, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima, Executive Secretary and CEO of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC); and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are expected to attend.

 The gathering will also host terminal operators, shipping line executives, freight forwarding leaders, and clearing veterans from across the maritime supply chain.