AMANO Woos Lekki Port for 2026 Convention, Seeks Deeper Industry Collaboration

The Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO) has moved to deepen its relationship with Lekki Port, exploring areas of collaboration around manpower development and stakeholder engagement ahead of its 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement and Convention.

The association’s leadership made the push during a visit to the port in Lagos, where it sought to connect the facility with maritime manpower development initiatives and rally support for its forthcoming convention.

Lekki Port Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Wang Qiang, who received the AMANO team, expressed the port’s readiness to work with the association, particularly through the planned convention, which he said could serve as a platform to spotlight operational challenges, emerging opportunities and areas requiring further development in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Qiang said the port was open to building a mutually beneficial relationship with AMANO, especially around professional development and industry collaboration.

He disclosed that Lekki Port’s establishment had created more than 5,000 jobs, including over 1,000 direct employment, with Nigerians accounting for 95 per cent of its workforce and expatriates five per cent.

The Lekki Port CEO also revealed plans to expand investments in the port’s liquid and general cargo areas, noting that the expansion would enable the facility to undertake a wider range of activities.

The engagement comes as AMANO prepares its 2026 Stakeholders’ Engagement and Convention, themed, “From Policy to Practice: Executing Maritime Excellence through Professional Capability and Real-World Results.”

AMANO President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, said the visit was aimed at strengthening the association’s relationship with Lekki Port and exploring opportunities to connect the facility with maritime manpower development initiatives.

Maiguwa congratulated the management and board of Lekki Port on the investment, describing the facility as an important addition to Nigeria’s port infrastructure and a development with significance for West and Central African trade.

He said AMANO had followed key milestones recorded by the port, including the commencement of a weekly feeder service in August 2026, the launch of the Mediterranean-West Africa Service involving Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Ocean Network Express (ONE), and the deployment of non-intrusive inspection technology.

The AMANO President said the association was particularly interested in supporting local human-capacity development and identifying training programmes at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, that align with Lekki Port’s operational needs.

He proposed opportunities for the port to support the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), industrial training placements, professional development programmes and a shared talent and skills pipeline.

Maiguwa also said AMANO was ready to support progressive maritime policies and deepen collaboration with industry operators through knowledge sharing, career development and stakeholder engagement.

Speaking on the convention, the Chairman of its Planning Committee, Chief Jonathan Agassi, said the event would focus on bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation by strengthening professional capability and linking reforms to measurable industry outcomes.

He said the convention would bring together government, private-sector operators and other maritime stakeholders to review Nigeria’s maritime development, promote best practices, strengthen collaboration and develop practical strategies for implementing maritime policies.

According to him, Lekki Port’s experience in modern port operations, technology, logistics, connectivity and private-sector participation makes it an important stakeholder in the conversation.

The visiting AMANO leadership team included Captain Garba Gajere, Secretary General; Oamien Joe Ailemen, Public Relations Officer; and Loveth Haruna, Lagos Chapter Chairperson.