Gloria Odion, Reporter

FirstLove Assembly, Rukpokwu, Port Harcourt, has unveiled an impressive lineup of keynote speakers for its Annual Faith Conference and 13th Anniversary Leadership and Business Session, scheduled to hold from August 12 to 16, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The conference will feature renowned leadership expert and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, as the keynote speaker.

Peterside,an acclaimed author of Leading in a Storm and Strategic Turnaround, is widely recognised as a management turnaround expert, leadership coach and thought leader.

Also billed to deliver keynote addresses are the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, a respected leadership scholar, and the Chief Executive Officer of Tico’s Kitchen, Mrs. Tina Osuji, who will share practical insights on entrepreneurship and business growth.

According to the organisers, the 2026 Faith Conference will commence at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026  while the mornings of August 13 to 15 will feature leadership, enterprise and career development sessions.

These sessions are designed to strengthen leadership capacity, foster innovation and inspire participants to achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives.

One of the major highlights of this year’s conference is “The Exchanges,” a structured networking initiative aimed at connecting the hundreds of participants expected from diverse industries, professions and backgrounds.

The organisers said the platform would provide attendees with opportunities to build lasting professional relationships, exchange ideas and unlock new avenues for personal and career advancement beyond the conference.

Dr. Peterside’s keynote address is titled, “The Ten Greatest Leadership Lessons I Learnt From Public Service — And Why Every Entrepreneur Should Know Them.”

In a statement jointly signed by the Resident Pastor of FirstLove Assembly, Rukpokwu, Pastor Alfred James Abu, and the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Dr. Boma Waribor, the church described the 13th Anniversary Faith Conference as “a prophetic season of new beginnings for our branch,” adding that the programme is deliberately structured “to equip participants for this new season and higher service.”

Other ministers expected to speak during the evening sessions and the thanksgiving service include the Overseer of FirstLove Assembly Worldwide, Rev. Simeon Afolabi; Rev. Chris Oarhe; Prophet Joseph Akanya; Pastor Wisdom Osiri; and the host, Pastor Alfred James Abu.

They will minister on the conference theme, “The Supernatural Life,” with messages aimed at inspiring participants to embrace purposeful, impactful and transformational living.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched the Blue Economy Accelerator Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at identifying, nurturing and accelerating innovative startups that will drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

The programme is designed to attract young, creative entrepreneurs with innovative ideas capable of transforming Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem through technology, sustainability and enterprise development.

Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the programme will provide participants with structured business development support, industry mentorship and technical guidance to help convert promising ideas into commercially viable businesses that address critical challenges and opportunities within the blue economy.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to unlock the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s marine resources by empowering a new generation of innovators.

“The programme reflects NIMASA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in unlocking the immense potential of the blue economy by empowering young innovators, entrepreneurs and technology-driven enterprises.

“At NIMASA, we want to provide a platform for investors to identify young talents and invest in them,” Mobereola stated.

The NIMASA boss also commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for providing a clear development roadmap through the codification of the National Marine and Blue Economy Policy.

He urged young Nigerians to seize the opportunity offered by the accelerator programme, describing it as a platform capable of transforming innovative ideas into scalable businesses and attracting investment into the maritime sector.

The programme is open to startups and innovators developing solutions across key segments of the blue economy.

These include marine waste management and the blue circular economy, aquaculture and sustainable fisheries, maritime technology and logistics innovation, ocean energy—including wave, tidal and offshore renewable energy—marine tourism and coastal recreation, marine biotechnology, ocean data and analytics, green shipping and vessel decarbonisation, smart port solutions, autonomous marine vehicles, biofouling prevention technologies, and nature-based coastal defence solutions aimed at improving coastal resilience.
NIMASA disclosed that the first phase of the programme is expected to attract at least 150 high-quality applications from Nigerian innovators both within the country and in the diaspora, provided they are Nigerian citizens.
The Agency believes the initiative will stimulate innovation, create employment opportunities, attract private sector investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading player in Africa’s emerging blue economy.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Barrister Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has pledged a comprehensive upgrade of the Authority’s ageing infrastructure, the gradual phase-out of unsafe boats, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders to unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways.

Shagari made the commitment on Wednesday , July 15th, 2026 during an inspection tour of NIWA’s facilities and ongoing projects in Lagos.

The tour, which covered the Authority’s Lagos Area Office in Marina, was conducted alongside members of the Governing Board and the Managing Director of NIWA, Engr. Yusuf Gerie.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Shagari explained that the visit formed part of the Board’s nationwide assessment of NIWA’s operations and infrastructure with a view to identifying priority areas requiring intervention.

He disclosed that one of the Board’s first decisions after its inauguration was to undertake a comprehensive review of the Authority’s facilities across the country to facilitate the rehabilitation of dilapidated offices and jetties, while expanding critical inland water transport infrastructure.

“We have made provisions in our budget to address infrastructure challenges across our offices and jetties nationwide.

We want all NIWA facilities to be functional, presentable and capable of supporting efficient service delivery,” he said.

The Board Chairman added that the Authority plans to increase the number of jetties nationwide, particularly in Lagos, to meet the growing demand for water transportation and improve connectivity across inland waterways.

On funding, Shagari acknowledged the need for continued government support but stressed that NIWA was equally focused on boosting its internally generated revenue through stronger stakeholder engagement and partnerships with relevant agencies.

He also reaffirmed the Authority’s determination to strengthen regulatory enforcement, especially against illegal jetties and unsafe operations.

According to him, NIWA is collaborating with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, to improve compliance with water transport regulations and enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.

Expressing concern over the continued use of ageing boats by commercial operators, Shagari described many of the vessels currently operating on Nigerian waterways as obsolete and unfit for modern water transportation.

“We are committed to phasing out unsafe vessels and replacing them with safer and more modern alternatives.

“The safety of Nigerians on our waterways remains a top priority,” he declared.

He further revealed that NIWA is exploring the acquisition of modern vessels and will work closely with indigenous boat builders and other stakeholders to improve the quality, safety and reliability of water transport services.

Shagari emphasized that developing safer and more navigable inland waterways would significantly reduce transportation costs, ease pressure on the nation’s road network, facilitate the movement of goods and passengers, and stimulate economic growth.

He therefore called for increased private sector participation in dredging, infrastructure development and water transportation services, noting that the sustainable development of the inland waterways sector requires strong public-private collaboration.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NIWA, Engr. Yusuf Gerie, said the facility tour was designed to give the Board firsthand insight into operations at the Lagos Area Office and enable it to identify practical measures for improving the Authority’s performance nationwide.

Gerie commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for assembling what he described as a team of experienced professionals and technocrats capable of repositioning NIWA and advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda within the marine and blue economy sector.

In her welcome address, the Lagos Area Manager, Engr. Sarat Braimah, described Lagos as the hub of Nigeria’s inland water transportation, stressing that the Area Office remains committed to promoting safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and infrastructure development on the nation’s busiest waterways.

She expressed confidence that the Board’s visit would further strengthen ongoing efforts to improve service delivery and enhance the Authority’s operational performance.