Joyce Mmereole Okoli
Renowned shipowner and maritime industry leader, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, will chair the 3rd edition of the Maritime Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL), organised by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), as stakeholders converge in Lagos to address the heavy toll of war risk insurance on Nigeria’s maritime trade.
The lecture, scheduled for Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, will spotlight the theme: *“Addressing the Burden of War Risk Insurance on Nigeria’s Maritime Trade.”*
Engr. Ogbeifun, Chairman of Starzs Investment Ltd and one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in maritime advocacy, is expected to guide deliberations as regulators, operators, and security agencies brainstorm practical solutions to the surging costs of war risk premiums imposed on vessels calling at Nigerian ports.
Key participants include the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who will attend as Special Guest of Honour, alongside industry regulators such as NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barr. Pius Akutah Ukeyima; and the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Gregory Oaemen.
Also billed to attend are Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director (Operations & Technical) of Tantita Security Services, and maritime lawyer, Dr. Emeka Akabogu, who will deliver the keynote address. Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, Chairman of Integrated Oil & Gas, is also expected as Guest of Honour.
MARAN President, Mr. Godfrey Bivbere, said Engr. Ogbeifun’s leadership will bring depth and perspective to the dialogue, noting that his long-standing experience in ship ownership and policy advocacy makes him well-suited to chair this year’s lecture.
He stressed that the 2025 edition promises to be solution-driven, with outcomes expected to guide policymakers and industry operators in reducing the financial burden of war risk insurance on Nigerian shipping and trade.
Now in its third edition, MAMAL has become a premier platform for frank conversations on issues affecting the growth and sustainability of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
