MARAN Trains 20 Members At Shipping Institute, Pledges Sustained Capacity Building

The Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria, MARAN has concluded a professional training programme for 20 of its members at the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria, CISN, as part of efforts to improve maritime journalists’ understanding of shipping operations, port management and emerging opportunities in Nigeria’s blue economy.

The Graduate Induction Training Programme, which ended on Saturday, October 10, 2026, was designed to equip participants with specialised knowledge of the technical, regulatory and operational aspects of the maritime industry.

Participants are expected to obtain a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Shipping upon successful completion of the programme.

The training covered maritime safety and security, integrated marine environment management, shipping and port management, cargo clearance procedures and documentation, as well as the marine and blue economy.

The programme forms part of MARAN’s efforts to strengthen the professional competence of its members and improve the quality of reporting on developments across Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Delivering the first lecture, Mr. Patrick Ambakederimo, a lecturer at CISN, examined the principles of maritime safety and security, highlighting their importance to efficient shipping operations, the protection of lives and property, and the sustainability of the maritime industry.

He discussed the identification and management of risks associated with vessel operations, cargo handling and other maritime activities, stressing the need for compliance with established safety regulations, regular inspections, adequate crew training and effective emergency response procedures.

Participants were also exposed to the importance of intelligence sharing, effective surveillance, coordinated security operations and compliance with relevant international maritime security standards.

The lecture further distinguished between maritime safety, which focuses on preventing accidents and operational hazards, and maritime security, which addresses deliberate threats and unlawful activities within the maritime domain.

Another lecture was delivered by Mr. Sunday Duru, a CISN lecturer, who spoke on the integrated approach to marine environment management.

Duru examined the need for coordinated efforts to protect marine and coastal environments from pressures associated with shipping activities, port operations, coastal development and other maritime-related activities.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration among government agencies, maritime operators, environmental organisations, coastal communities and other stakeholders in addressing environmental challenges.

The session also examined marine pollution, oil spills, improper waste disposal, plastic pollution and the degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems. Participants were introduced to the importance of environmental monitoring, pollution prevention, proper waste management and effective enforcement of environmental regulations.

Other areas covered by the programme included the anatomy of shipping and port management, cargo clearance procedures and documentation, and an overview of the marine and blue economy.

These courses were designed to broaden participants’ understanding of the commercial and operational dimensions of shipping, as well as economic opportunities in fisheries, coastal tourism and other ocean-related activities.

Speaking on the programme, MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, said the association was committed to building a corps of maritime journalists with the technical knowledge and professional competence required to report the industry accurately and effectively.

Onigbinde noted that maritime journalism required more than the ability to gather and write news, explaining that reporters must understand the policies, regulations, commercial transactions and operational processes that shape the industry.

He said better-informed journalists would be better positioned to analyse developments, scrutinise decisions by industry stakeholders and explain complex maritime issues to the public.

The MARAN president said the association would sustain its capacity-building efforts by pursuing partnerships with maritime institutions, government agencies and private-sector operators to provide members with access to specialised training and professional development opportunities.

He added that the association would continue to explore programmes that would expose members to emerging trends in shipping, port operations, maritime security, international trade and the blue economy.

According to him, the objective is to ensure that MARAN members remain professionally relevant and equipped to meet the changing demands of maritime reporting.

Onigbinde stressed that continuous training was essential to strengthening the credibility of maritime journalism and improving public understanding of the sector’s contribution to national economic development.

He expressed optimism that the knowledge acquired through the programme would reflect in the quality of reports produced by participants, particularly in their coverage of port efficiency, shipping operations, maritime safety, environmental sustainability and government policies affecting the industry.

The initiative comes amid growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime sector, improve port competitiveness, enhance maritime security and unlock the economic potential of the country’s marine resources.

Through the programme, MARAN is seeking to bridge the knowledge gap between journalism and the technical realities of the shipping industry, while positioning its members to deliver more accurate, balanced and informed reports on developments within the maritime sector.

Photo Caption: MARAN members in a group photograph with proprietor of CISN, Prof Alex Okwuashi (5th from right).

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