LAGOS — OCT 10, 2026— The Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria, MARAN, has raised the bar for maritime journalism in Nigeria, with 20 of its members completing an intensive professional shipping training at the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria, CISN.
The Graduate Induction Training Programme, which ended Saturday, October 10, 2026, is aimed at bridging the gap between newsroom skills and the technical realities of shipping, port management and Nigeria’s vast blue economy opportunities.
On successful completion, participants will bag a Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Shipping.
From Safety To Blue Economy — Full Technical Immersion
The programme covered critical modules: maritime safety and security, integrated marine environment management, shipping and port management, cargo clearance procedures and documentation, and the marine and blue economy.
In his lecture, CISN lecturer, Mr Patrick Ambakederimo, dissected principles of maritime safety and security as pillars for efficient shipping, protection of lives and property, and sustainability of the industry.
He harped on risk identification in vessel operations, cargo handling, compliance with safety regulations, regular inspections, crew training and emergency response, plus intelligence sharing, surveillance, coordinated security operations and adherence to international security standards.
He drew a clear line: maritime safety prevents accidents and operational hazards, while maritime security confronts deliberate threats and unlawful acts.
Another facilitator, Mr Sunday Duru, focused on integrated marine environment management — coordinated action to protect marine and coastal ecosystems from shipping, port operations and coastal development pressures.
Duru emphasized collaboration among government agencies, operators, environmental groups and coastal communities, warning on marine pollution, oil spills, plastic waste and ecosystem degradation, and stressed monitoring, pollution prevention, proper waste management and strong enforcement.
Other sessions explored anatomy of shipping and port management, cargo clearance, and blue economy prospects in fisheries, coastal tourism and ocean resources.
MARAN President: Informed Journalists, Better Industry
MARAN President, Oluyinka Onigbinde, said the initiative is deliberate to build a corps of maritime journalists with technical competence to report accurately, analyse developments, scrutinise stakeholder decisions and explain complex issues to the public.
“Maritime journalism requires more than gathering and writing news. Reporters must understand policies, regulations, commercial transactions and operational processes that shape the industry,” Onigbinde said.
He pledged sustained capacity building through partnerships with maritime institutions, government agencies and private operators, exposing members to emerging trends in shipping, port operations, maritime security, international trade and blue economy.
“Continuous training is essential to strengthening credibility of maritime journalism and improving public understanding of the sector’s contribution to national development,” he said, expressing optimism the knowledge will reflect in quality reporting on port efficiency, shipping, safety, environmental sustainability and government policy.
The training comes at a time Nigeria is pushing to improve port competitiveness, enhance maritime security and unlock marine resources for economic growth — and MARAN is positioning its members to lead that conversation with accuracy, balance and depth.
