The Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) will bring industry stakeholders together in Lagos on September 4 for its 2026 Maritime Training Summit, with a strong focus on technology, innovation and workforce development.
The summit, themed “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda,” will examine ways of equipping Nigeria’s maritime workforce with the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the blue economy.
A key feature of the event will be a presentation by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, titled “An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations.”
AMJON said the presentation would highlight the growing importance of technology in customs administration, particularly in improving trade processes, revenue generation, border control and economic security.
The Association noted that the Nigeria Customs Service had introduced several reforms aimed at modernising its operations. These include the Unified Customs Management System, popularly known as B’Odogwu, and its alignment with the National Single Window programme.
According to AMJON, the adoption of digital systems is reshaping customs procedures by improving cargo clearance, trade facilitation, revenue collection and enforcement.
The summit will also examine other customs initiatives, including the Time Release Study, which seeks to identify delays in cargo clearance, the One Stop Shop model for coordinating operations and the use of drones to strengthen surveillance along Nigeria’s borders.
AMJON said discussions would focus on how these innovations could be expanded and incorporated into a sustainable human capital development framework for the maritime sector.
The Association stressed that exploiting Nigeria’s blue economy potential would require more than access to marine resources, saying the country must develop a highly skilled workforce capable of using modern technologies across the maritime value chain.
It said continuous training and professional development were essential in areas such as shipping, ports, logistics, fisheries, offshore energy, shipbuilding, repairs and other emerging blue economy activities.
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Participants are expected to discuss artificial intelligence, automation, digital maritime operations, emerging skills, workforce reskilling, maritime security, port digitalisation, customs technology and innovation in maritime education.
The role of government agencies, private sector operators, regulators and training institutions in preparing workers for changing technologies and international maritime standards will also feature prominently.
The event is expected to draw government officials, maritime agency executives, Customs representatives, port and shipping operators, terminal managers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, academics, training institutions, technology firms and other blue economy stakeholders.
AMJON President Vera Osokpo said the summit would promote practical discussions on the future of maritime training and help ensure that Nigerian professionals remain relevant as technology transforms the global maritime industry.
Osokpo said innovation must be matched with investment in human capacity so that Nigeria could convert its maritime resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
She added that the summit would also enable maritime journalists to gain deeper knowledge of technological developments, regulatory changes and operational reforms, thereby improving specialised reporting on the sector.
AMJON said the meeting was expected to produce practical recommendations for building a future-ready maritime workforce and strengthening Nigeria’s efforts to unlock the economic benefits of the blue economy.
