Accolades and tributes were poured from far and near on past leaders of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in an event aptly described as a night of glitz, bliss and glamour at Rockview Hotel, Government Reservation Area (GRA), Apapa, Lagos recently.
No fewer than 13 erstwhile Presidents of MARAN which prides itself as the foremost umbrella association for journalists covering the maritime sector of the economy were honoured in the appreciation reception organized by MARAN.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that these past leaders had toiled and sweated to build MARAN into a formidable group of maritime journalists that has over the years shaped government policies and programmes in the maritime industry and beyond.
The idea of organizing a reception for the association erstwhile leaders was sequel to a decision taken by the Chairman, MARAN Caretaker Committee, Pastor Tunde Ayodele who told members of the association at its January 2026 congress about the need to honour MARAN former Presidents.
Ayodele revealed that he and members of his team were inspired to organize a befitting reception for the past presidents, given their sacrifices, passion, patriotism and sheer resilience they had displayed to berth a MARAN that was the progenitor of all other journalists association in the maritime industry.
His words: When my team and I assumed responsibility as the caretaker committee, one of our foremost priorities was to reconnect with our roots by honouring these great men. This event was not just a celebration. It was a reminder that their labour was not in vain. Nearly four decades later, MARAN remains strong, relevant, and growing. We recognise that the wisdom, experience, and guidance of our past leaders are invaluable”.
In order to execute the project without any hitch, he also disclosed that a five-man organising committee with Mr. Funso Olojo as Chairman was set up. It is on record that Olojo is also the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of MARAN.
Other members of the organizing committee were Rev. John Iwori, Elder Enyeribe Anyanwu, Mrs. Ruth Umunna, and Mrs. Sandra Chkwunyere. To say the least, members of the committee started work in earnest. They set out to work, toiling day and night to organize the most befitting reception for the past leaders of the association on April 24th, 2026.
The reception was a milestone as the past presidents of MARAN have not been hosted by the association since its establishment 38 years ago. Not a few persons opined that it was a night of glowing tributes, good will messages and effusive show of love to the men and woman of valour who built and nurtured MARAN to where it is today.
The roll call of past leaders of MARAN were as follows:
Rev. Alban Opara, the Minister of God in His vineyard and the pioneer President of MARAN; Elder Asu Beks, popularly called God Father, an enigmatic media mogul who is Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Maritime Media Limited, publisher of the influential Shipping World; Barrister Tino Buoro, a legal luminary and expert in arbitration law; Mr. Ubon Akpan, now late but a colossus in the media world; late Mr. Emmanuel Adegbe who was also a force to be reckoned with in journalism in his lifetime and Mr. Pius Mordi, a media aide to the Governor of Delta State, Elder Sheriff Obovwori.
Others were the late Mr. Ray Ugochukwu, an erudite journalist who remains the only past leader who was President of MARAN twice; Mr. Sesan Onilemo, brilliant and consummate journalist who is the CEO of First Mediacon Media Limited, the publisher of Shipping Position newspaper and producer of Shipping Position on radio; Elder Dele Aderibigbe, a fearless journalist who current Chairman, Nigeria National Maritime Journalists(NNMJ), the confederation of six maritime journalists associations in the maritime industry; and Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, a retired Director at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and presently, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council.
Also celebrated was Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola; late Ifeyinwa Obi who remains the only female that has ever been elected as MARAN President. It is on record that Obi, a crack journalist was a humanist, passionate and committed welfarist. The last but not the least on the roll call of MARAN past presidents celebrated on that night of glitz was Mr. Anya Njoku, a fiery and fearless journalist who is known for his integrity while in office.
It must be noted that all the deceased past presidents were represented by their families, including wives, children, relatives and friends.
For instance, Mrs. Nneka Rosemary Ugochukwu stood for her late husband, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu while Mrs. Paulina Adegbe and her two adorable daughters stood in for her late husband, Mr. Emmanuel Adegbe.
In the same vein, a seasoned journalist, Mr. Frank Meke represented the family of late Mr. Ubong Akpan as the wife of the deceased was away on a family engagements.
Indeed, it was a night to remember as MARAN in an unprecedented way, honoured the labour of its heroes past to ensure that they did not labour in vain.
It must be noted that the reception of the association past leaders attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy and beyond.
Some of the awardees expressed their heartfelt gratitude to MARAN for organizing the reception to honour them.
Mrs. Ugochukwu and Mrs. Adegbe were effusive and emotional when they delivered moving messages of gratitude to MARAN.
Mrs. Ugochukwu’s words: “With heartfelt appreciation, the family of Ugochukwu sincerely appreciate the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) for the honour bestowed on my late husband, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu, your former president.
“Though he is no longer here, your thoughtful recognition of his leadership through love, honour and respect showed is really comforting to us. Thank you for keeping his memory alive. We are truly grateful for this kind gesture.
“Thank you Chairman, Caretaker Committee. Thank you Chairman, Organizing Committee. Thank you Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria. Thank you all stakeholders. God bless you.”
On her part, Mrs. Adegbe said: “The family of late Mr. Emmanuel Adegbe sincerely wants to appreciate the organizers of the event held 24/4/2026 in honour of their past presidents living and the deceased.
“Thank you Maritime Association of Nigeria (MARAN) for what you did. It was an amazing experience. We pray for long life and success for the association in the nearest future. Thank you once again”
It must be noted that the rendition of these messages of appreciation propelled attendees to be sober and fell into a solemn mood, as some could not help but wiped their faces with their handkerchiefs.
The event was chaired by renowned ship owner and pioneer Chairman, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Engr. Greg Ogbeifun. Master mariner and erstwhile Minister of Interior, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho presented a thought- provoking seminar paper on the role of media in sustainable maritime development.
Rev. Alban Opara, the first MARAN President, took the awe-struck audience on a historical tour of the formation of MARAN.
Opara narrated to attendees about the dramatic story of how MARAN was born on April 10th, 1988 during the fraud-induced port congestion era of that year.
He also listed the founding members of the historic nascent body of maritime journalists. These include:
Alban Opara – Vanguard Newspaper, (Pioneer President)
Emeka Okoroanyanwu – The Guardian Newspaper (Pioneer Vice President)
Friday Odoemena – The Republic Newspaper (Pioneer General Secretary)
Remi itie – Radio Nigeria (Pioneer Treasurer)
Martin Nwanne – Daily Times Newspapers
Goke Odeyinka replaced Tunde Fabunmi – National Concord
Eddie Iroha – Business Times
Hanni Okoroafor – Business Concord
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN Correspondent (Name not available)
Rasheed Williams – National Television Authority (NTA)
According to him, these are the men and woman that braved the odds and the intimidation of the military government of General Ibrahim Babamosi Babangida and the oppressive port authority of that period.
It was a historical expedition that make the audience fall into a pin drop silence while listening with rapt attention but later erupted in a spontaneous applause after the thrilling details of how MARAN was formed over three decades ago.
The occasion afforded most MARAN members, especially the younger ones, many of who were still toddlers or were even not yet born at the creation of MARAN, to behold, flesh and blood, those men who were the forerunners of the association.
The appreciation night was a night to remember which will be etched on the memory of all those who attended.
