The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, has again been honored as Best Radio Station in Nigeria.
This is courtesy of The New Experience Newspaper, which also honoured Mrs Bolanle Owoyemi, the Director Lagos Operations of FRCN with Excellent Leadership Award and the General Manager of Radio One FM, Mr Abiola Peters with Outstanding Media Personality.
The presentations took place during the Eighth Anniversary Celebration and Annual Award Night of The New Experience Newspaper themed, ‘Repositioning Nigeria’s Maritime Industry: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward, held in Apapa Lagos.
In her keynote address, Assistant Director, Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dorcas Bature, pointed out that infrastructural deficit, security, piracy, regulations and other threats hinders the growth and sustainability of the sector which could have enhanced the revenue base of the country.
She noted that the introduction of the Blue Economy by President Bola Tinubu came at the right time to actualise the untapped values of the Nigeria waterways.
In his contribution, the former Group General Manager of Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC, Mr. Chamberlain Oyibo, commended the bold step of the President on subsidy removal in 2023, stating the need for a better dimension in reducing the prices of transportation, fertilizer, health, education and other basic needs of the masses.
Speaking on the theme of the event, the Publisher of The New Experience Newspaper, Prince Benson Davies, noted that there are several challenges in the maritime industry, which requires holistic solutions, with hopes that the outcomes of the programme will help in repositioning the sector.
He therefore called on every stakeholder to contribute their quota and galvanize support for the federal government so that potentials of the maritime industry become well utilized.
In his address on Marine Safety, the Assistant Inspector General, Maritime Police Command Force, AIG. Chinedu Oko who was represented by ASP. Adebayo Rasheed, assured stakeholders in the maritime industry of safety and decorum at the ports and waterways compared to what it was in the past.
In her remarks, one of the Awardees and Director, Lagos Operations of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mrs. Bolanle Owoyemi who was represented by the General Manager of Metro FM, Mrs. Maria Iheoma, said the nation stands to gain a lot through the Blue Economy if the inherent resources can be harnessed, while noting that there are several issues militating against the development of the sector such as corruption and lack of political will.
Highpoints of the event were Panel Session and Award Presentations to stakeholders in different sectors driving the Maritime Industry.
Reporting by Leke Badru