Inside “The Making of Oyebamiji”: The Media Bond That Shook Nigeria’s Maritime Sector
Abuja will, on Tuesday, play host to a high-profile convergence of maritime stakeholders as the immediate past Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, is set to receive the “Most Media Friendly Maritime CEO” Award.
The ceremony, aptly themed “The Making of Oyebamiji,” is designed to recognise Oyebamiji’s exceptional rapport with the maritime media and his deliberate commitment to transparency, access and accountable leadership during his tenure at NIWA.
In a statement signed by the Coalition Spokesman, Mr. Joshua Yousouph, ANIPR, the organisers disclosed that the event will attract top government officials, regulators, industry leaders and senior members of the maritime press.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, is expected to headline the gathering, alongside the Chairman of the NIWA Governing Board, Alhaji Mukhtari Shehu Shagari, CFR, and other senior government functionaries.
Also expected in appreciable numbers are members of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists, whose engagement with NIWA was significantly strengthened under Oyebamiji’s leadership.
Throughout his time in office, Oyebamiji earned a reputation as a reform-driven administrator who viewed the media not as adversaries, but as strategic partners in advancing sectoral growth and public accountability.
His tenure was marked by openness and accessibility, with structured information channels that allowed journalists timely access to data, officials and operational environments within the inland waterways system.
Beyond routine briefings, Oyebamiji actively supported media tours to NIWA operational areas, exposing reporters to water transport infrastructure, safety operations and regulatory activities, thereby improving the quality and depth of maritime reporting.
Chairman of the Coalition of Maritime Journalists, Mr. Frank Meke, described Oyebamiji as a leader who “rebuilt confidence between regulators and reporters,” noting that professionalism and mutual respect defined NIWA–media relations under his watch.
The Abuja event is being widely described as an A-list industry gathering and the first major maritime stakeholders’ forum since the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
As anticipation builds, the award is seen not merely as a personal honour for Oyebamiji, but as a strong signal that transparent leadership and constructive media engagement remain central to the future of Nigeria’s inland waterways and marine economy.
