· Emerges maritime icon 2023
· Points way to true blue economy
·Describes policy as a giant step
·Wants blue economy under the presidency for broader policy applicability
By Ignatius Chukwu
Rivers born medical doctor turned investor and entrepreneur, Chief/Dr Emi Membere-Otaji, has continued to place the image and reputation of Rivers State and the Niger Delta on national and international reputation map.
This time, CEO of Elschon Nigeria Limited and chairman of the Princess medical group has been named the Maritime Icon of the Year, 2023.
In that capacity, therefore, he has been speaking on the blue economy and how best Nigeria could explore the sector for better results and for faster development of whatever is in or around water.
The Omis Maritime Awards series has emerged as the leading light in the maritime sector that recognizes industry leaders and to encourage others to excel. This coincides the moment government of the land decided to focus attention on the maritime sector and create a blue economy concept.
The 2023 edition was highly highlighted by the organisers. The Chief Executive Officer of ‘The OMIS’, Femi Da-silva, spoke extensively about the event and the dignitaries that were lined up for awards and what they did.
Speaking previously about ‘The OMIS’, Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, the late Otunba Kunle Folarin, had put it on record, thus: “This highly celebrated event will not only showcase the maritime sector, but also celebrate achievers and highlight the sector’s strategic position in the league of the political economy of the nation.”
He had then said that captains of industry and frontline practitioners were nominated by leading voices in the maritime sector because of their selfless leadership roles and contributions to the growth of the sector.
The event, he had noted, aimed to bring together prominent maritime experts, industry leaders, regulators, and other stakeholders to collaboratively address the pressing challenges confronting the nation’s maritime industry while formulating innovative solutions.
Listed among the judges were former National Port Authority (NPA) Port Manager, Joshua Asanga; Vice President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mrs Ify Akerele; and maritime law expert, Mrs Jean Anishere, who is also the United Nations (UN) sole representative for the African Women in Maritime.
This level of personalities thus marked out the credibility and essence of the award that went to Chief/Dr Membere-Otaji.
Details:
The new maritime icon has already dug into his reservoir of knowledge to help Nigeria and the government find the right bearing and focus on the blue economy. He has advised the federal government to rather create a commission or department under the presidency to oversee it.
He said a ministry would compact the vast blue economy into limitations.
Chief Membere-Otaji, who made waves in Rivers State when he became the youngest chairman of a public quoted company in the early 1990s (West African Glass industry, WAGI), argued that ‘Blue Economy’ is beyond the maritime sector and can thus not be managed as a mere maritime ministry.
The onetime special adviser to then Gov Peter Odili reminded the FG that ‘blue economy’ deals with everything around water including offshore oil (ministry of petroleum), subsea mining (under ministry of solid minerals), fishing (under ministry of agriculture), open sea wind energy and hydro energy projects (under ministry of power).
By this, he further argued, the ministry managing ‘Blue Economy’ would only be dealing with maritime aspect and would lose sight of the other subsectors of the ‘Blue Economy’ under other ministries.
For that reason, he called for the creation of a special commission, agency, or commission in the presidency to superintend over everything that has to do with business in the water no matter the ministry under which such an activity falls.
The medical doctor and bigtime health sector investor who was one-time commissioner of health in Rivers State, described the blue economy initiative of the present administration as a giant stride in the right direction.
The business leader and leadership resource person said: “Blue economy is economy from the waters; river, ocean, lake, swamp, etc. They say a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step. Other countries have gone far, but this government has started it.”
He said the present nomenclature being envisaged for implementation of the laudable initiative would rather create a problem because it has slightly missed the point. “Blue economy is beyond maritime or shipping, it is about the economic value that you can extract from the waters.
“Yes, the bulk of it is in maritime space both cargo and passengers. This is because over 90 per cent of global trade passes through the waters. Imagine the economy of the US and China alone and 90 per cent of their produce passes through water. Maritime thus carries the bulk, but if you limit it to maritime, you have lost the other ones.”
The chairman/CEO of Elschon Nigeria said today, Nigeria’s offshore is taking over the oil industry and this activity is taking place in the maritime sector. “Global offshore oil is huge. It is in blue economy, not in petroleum. River beds have valleys too. They have minerals which can be exploited. Fishing is in Ministry of Agriculture but fishing is done in water. The dams are in water but they generate power. So, these things in agriculture, power, solid minerals, petroleum, etc are blue economy but in other sectors.”
Its on this basis that he advised the FG to strive to get it right from the onset to avoid regrets or cashes along the line. “So, why not have a ‘Blue Economy Commission’ under the presidency so they manage it from all other sectors.
“A Commission or Agency will coordinate in all ministries to get more value, but for a mere ministry, they will be limited. They will be forced to turn it into a Maritime Ministry.”
The University of Lagos-trained medical expert who owns the Princess Hospitals (Classic and Signature) in Port Harcourt was crowned the maritime icon of the year by the Maritime and Offshore Omis Award. He has also won many other awards including one by then President Muhammadu Buhari and one by immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike for outstanding achievements at one time or the other.
A book on leadership, ‘Push Through The Wall; Way of Successes’, has just been published with his life as case study.
It was gathered that the selection processes were rigorous to bring out the best icon of the maritime industry for the year.
The organisers had told newsmen that the awards were in recognition of leadership and significant contributions to the maritime industry. The event took at Oriental Hotel in Lagos last week.
Experts in the sector say maritime is wide, not just shipping, logistics, finance, lawyers, Journalists, etc. Seafarers are critical stakeholders in the maritime sector, there are operations, safety professionals, the regulatory bodies, etc. Omis award thus cuts across these subsectors.
Membere-Otaji’s award is not just for being a shipowner, a founding member of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, or as an advocate.
Observers note that he was part of the team that fought for the eastern ports (from Koko, Wari, Port Harcourt, to Calabar to be back on stream. He was president of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA).
On this, he noted: “A lot had happened that diverted traffic away from the region. For you to get them back, you will have to network from the stakeholders because they have a say on where they want to go.
“We made the point that you cannot push all your goods into ports in one corner of the country. You need to spread out. Also, a chunk of the importers is in the East.”
He said his team asked for 30 per cent reduction but faced some resistance from those he termed mischief makers who he alleged to have said they cannot tell companies what to charge. “But we said, no we are directing the request to public sector charges, and this amounts to a big chunk.”
He recalled that the then leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority approved only 10 per cent, a gesture he described as still good. He regards this as one of his many contributions in the area of advocacy.
Another striking contribution recorded in his favour could be what he did that helped to reduce the then notorious Apapa gridlock. As president of PHCCIMA then, he was invited for presidential breakfast roundtable which was always chaired by the immediate past vice president, Yemi Osinbajo. One of such meetings focused on the Apapa gridlock, there was big debate on what to do. Membere-Otaji said he intervened and told them that what they were trying to do had been tested in the Niger Delta where oil thrives in water.
He showed how oil and other oil-related equipment were easily moved the swamps and the creeks with flat-bottomed barges to terminals. He showed them how it could be done in Apapa.
According to him, the suggestion attracted huge attention and he was invited for more talks at the NPA. The result is that barges now ferry containers at Apapa to some terminals in Lagos from where trucks take over.
He said: “People may not know that it took us under the chairmanship of Osinbajo to get this done.” This may have added to some other breakthroughs he has recorded in his tour of duty in the maritime sector.
The organisers had disclosed that they got the nominations by voices in each subsector and that screening took over before the few persons were picked and before Membere-otaji emerged as the maritime icon of the year.
The icon said he was excited because his background actually is medicine. He has however made so much impact in the maritime sector by training himself in the best places around the world including in Singapore. People like him are seen to have paid their dues.
On whether he has any plans to push more persons and youths up from his zone, the expert said he participates in some startups and youth development programmes.
“In that I get involved in mentoring. I tell them, look, I made this mistake, don’t make it. I did this right, try to perfect on it. That is why people pressed me to write my story to leave behind a legacy. It was not about my personal story but I have done some good things here and there.
“This led me to look for people to support me to write my story. It is not all about Dr Membere Otaji, but what can new people learn. I may not parade an international profile but whatever it is, I have done my beats here and there.”
He expressed gratitude to the organisers and judges who picked him to ear such recognition and award as the ‘Icon of Maritime’.
Repeating his adage that the dancer does not see his back, he reminded observers that since he was not in government to dish out contracts that could win him friends, it was clear that he merited his awards and recognitions.
He lamented over the apparent hunger in the younger people for money instead of name. “Ours was that name first and money will surely come. Those days, people strived to get degrees and doctorates. Now, people have other things on their minds.”
He however insisted that those who buy doctorate degrees from degree mills would never use it to work.
“My prayer each time is that my life and my story should motivate others. That is why the book was titled, ‘Push Through The Wall’, and succeed. There are many challenges but push through the wall. Never give up! That is my biggest joy.”
So far, Dr Membere-Otaji has continued to fly the flag of Rivers State and Niger Delta high at the national level. He is already lined up to become President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in his new capacity as 2nd national deputy. The employer of labour has continued to attract investments to Rivers State.
