Youths under the auspices of the Annual Maritime Students and Youth (AMSAY) Conference are set to honour two late icons of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
They are the late erudite former Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin and the former Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning in Imo State, Dr. Chris Asoluka.
The two key eminent personalities who were prominent players in the maritime sector of the economy when they were alive will be honoured with posthumous awards in recognition of their enduring contributions to capacity building and youth development.
Organisers of the event, Platforms Communication in a statement made available to Maritime Bits stated that the posthumous honours will be conferred at the 10th edition of the AMSAY Conference scheduled to hold in Lagos on June 10, 2026, as part of activities marking the conference’s 10th anniversary milestones.
It explained that the awards are in acknowledgement of the duo’s lifetime commitment to career mentorship and the advancement of Nigerian maritime students and youths through capacity building.
While Asoluka who is also the former Chairman of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Lekki will be honoured as Maritime Most Profound Eloquent Speaker, Folarin will be recognised as Nigerian Maritime Encyclopedia.
Speaking ahead of the event, Convener of AMSAY Conference, Mr. Sylvanus stated that both men played significant roles in the early years of the AMSAY Conference and deserved to be so honoured by the initiative they conscientiously nutured.
His words: “I recall that at the maiden edition in 2016, Dr. Asoluka delivered the lead paper presentation titled “How Nations Develop Their Maritime Sector,” while Otunba Folarin presented a paper on “A New National Carrier In The Offing: Lessons From The Rise and Fall Of NNSL.
“Their contributions continued at the 2018 edition, where Dr. Asoluka again delivered the lead paper on “The Local Content Act, The Cabotage Act and Everything In-Between: How Beneficial to Nigerian Youth?” Otunba Folarin also inspired the participating youths with a motivating speech as Father of the Day”.
Obasi further revealed that beyond their intellectual inputs, the late maritime leaders were instrumental to the programmes instant success as they provided strategic guidance, shared valuable ideas, and leveraged their contacts and networks to ensure the programme’s success in its formative years.
Maritime Bits had reported that Folarin who was also the Chairman of National Seafarers Welfare Board died on November 8th 2022, few weeks to his 82nd birthday.
Asoluka, a respected development and strategy consultant who has played very important roles in various sectors of the Nigerian economy and politics, particularly in the area of policy development and implementation in the maritime sector passed away on May 10, 2025 at the age of 70.
The posthumous awards to be presented by Platforms Communications is expected to serve as a reminder of their legacies and inspire a new generation of maritime professionals to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
The AMSAY Conference has over the years evolved into a leading platform for mentoring and engaging young marine professionals who are desirous of contributing their quota towards the development of Nigerian maritime sector.
The 10th anniversary edition is expected to draw participants from all walks of life.
