Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Nigeria’s maritime industry received a major boost on Friday as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, formally adopted the Maritime Career Mentoring Programme (M-CAMP) as his personal legacy project.
Jolapamo made the announcement in Lagos while serving as Father of the Day at the 13th edition of the quarterly mentoring initiative organised by Platforms Communications.
He praised the consistency of the convener, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, noting that M-CAMP has, since 2016, remained one of the nation’s most impactful grooming grounds for aspiring seafarers and young maritime professionals.
Jolapamo, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous shipowners, said his decision was driven by a desire to preserve local maritime competence in an era of fierce global competition.
“I see this programme as a succession plan that mentors and grooms the young professionals who will take over from us when we are gone.
“It gives me hope that there is a future the older generation can be proud of. If a platform brings cadets face to face with industry professionals, shifts their mindset and emphasises that character is as important as competence, then count me in,” he said.
He recalled instances where poor attitude and mismanagement by seafarers led to vessel losses and the collapse of shipping companies, stressing that structured mentorship is necessary to correct past errors.
“If M-CAMP aims to refocus students and set their priorities right, then I will support it and encourage others to join. Together, we can make it a national project that benefits all,” he added.
Addressing the students, the maritime icon urged them to remain diligent, leverage mentoring platforms, build strong networks, and prepare themselves for emerging opportunities in the sector.
In his response, M-CAMP convener and CEO of Platforms Communications, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi, expressed gratitude for Jolapamo’s endorsement. He described it as the “much-needed lifeline” to scale the initiative into a nationwide succession-planning programme.
Obasi revealed that previous attempts to secure a reputable maritime figurehead for the legacy project had stalled due to lack of interest. Jolapamo’s adoption, he said, now opens the door for M-CAMP to expand beyond Lagos into other maritime-active regions, including the Eastern ports.
Since debuting in June 2016, with an inaugural session that took UNILAG law students to Oliseh Agbakoba Legal (OAL), M-CAMP has hosted 13 editions, engaging students and young professionals across various maritime fields.