By Ali Elias
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering strategic partnerships and indigenous capacity development as stakeholders intensified discussions on unlocking the vast opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime sector and the emerging Blue Economy.
The Board’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe (FNSE, FIPS), was represented by the Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye, at the high-level Maritime Symposium organised by Starzs Investments Company Limited (SICL) as part of activities marking the indigenous maritime firm’s 40th anniversary.
Held in Port Harcourt under the theme, “Anchoring Resilience: 40 Years of Private Indigenous Initiative, Shaping Nigeria’s Maritime Future,” the symposium attracted policymakers, regulators, industry operators, academics and investors who examined pathways for building a more resilient, competitive and sustainable maritime industry.
According to information released by the NCDMB, the symposium provided a platform for cross-sector collaboration, with participants exchanging ideas on innovation, investment and policy initiatives required to deepen indigenous participation in the maritime industry while accelerating the development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
Among the notable dignitaries at the event was the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, alongside leading figures from the maritime and oil and gas industries.
The Board noted that discussions focused on developing sustainable strategies capable of strengthening Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem through enhanced collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and academia.
The event also underscored the growing synergy between the oil and gas industry and the maritime sector, both of which remain critical to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
For NCDMB, participation in the symposium aligns with its statutory mandate of promoting Nigerian content across the oil and gas value chain by encouraging local capacity development, technology transfer and stronger participation of indigenous companies in strategic sectors linked to the petroleum industry.
The maritime industry plays a pivotal role in supporting offshore oil and gas operations, with indigenous shipping and marine logistics firms increasingly contributing to vessel ownership, offshore support services, fabrication, engineering and manpower development.
Founded in 1986 by maritime entrepreneur Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Starzs Investments Company Limited has evolved into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous offshore marine logistics companies, operating a fleet of offshore support vessels and executing numerous marine contracts within the country’s energy sector. The company has also invested significantly in human capital development through cadetship programmes and professional training for Nigerian seafarers.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary celebrations, the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Iroghama Ogbeifun, described the firm’s greatest achievement as the transformation of lives through employment, training, mentorship and opportunities, stressing that people remain the company’s most valuable asset.
The symposium’s keynote discussions examined how Nigeria could leverage indigenous enterprise, improved access to financing, innovation, competitive local content policies and stronger public-private collaboration to maximise opportunities within the country’s maritime domain.
Industry experts noted that despite Nigeria’s vast coastline, strategic location and growing offshore energy activities, the maritime sector still faces challenges including inadequate infrastructure, limited access to long-term financing for indigenous operators, inconsistent implementation of existing maritime policies and the need for greater investment in skills development. Addressing these constraints, they argued, would be essential to positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in Africa.
The symposium formed the climax of Starzs Investments’ week-long 40th anniversary celebrations held under the broader theme, “Transforming Lives, 40 Years On,” which included corporate social responsibility initiatives, community development programmes, maritime education support and a gala night celebrating four decades of indigenous enterprise. The gathering reflected a growing consensus among government agencies and industry leaders that achieving Nigeria’s Blue Economy aspirations will require sustained investment in indigenous capacity, stronger policy coordination, innovation and strategic partnerships capable of transforming the country’s extensive maritime resources into engines of economic growth, employment and national development.