Prof Sule Abiodun is being considered for the coveted job of Director-General at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), according to Professor Yusuf Magaji.
Magaji also stated that while Sule is the best man for the job, the Presidency should disregard and dismiss baseless claims against the erudite marine specialist, despite the fact that he has never been invited or indicted by any security or financial authority.
He said Sule would, however, reposition the sector and assist in the creation of a more robust and impressive agency aimed at recovering Nigeria’s pride of place in the international community based on his anticedents.
Sule has two PhDs, one in Maritime Technology Management and one in Fisheries and Aquaculture, according to Professor Magaji. The learned Professor also holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a number of professional qualifications, including a Marine Navigation Certificate and a Joint Scandinavian Surveyor Certificate.
He said the maritime expert’s qualifications also include a rigorous MSc degree in Maritime ( Nautical Science)from WMU Malmoe, Sweden, obtained in December, 1994, He was sponsored by The IMO, European Union and the then Nigeria National Maritime Authority (NMA),
in 1991. As an IMO Scholar, with over 110 publications and textbooks to his credit, Sule will be in Position to help Nigeria into Category C which has eluded the country for along time due to non implementation of Conventions which Nigeria is a party.
“Sule’s proposed agenda, if approved by the President, will include a focus on strengthening key sectors of the maritime industry, Manpower Development in Nigeria by conserving scarce forex, Flag State and Port State management, Marine Environmental Management based MARPOL Convention 1973 as Amended and cabotage drives for better IGR;
while aiming to improve existing aquaculture programs, particularly in the marine culture and freshwater domains, and revitalise Deep Sea Capture Fisheries and Fisheries Value Chain programs to strengthen Nigeria’s food security.”
According to Magaji, who claims to have known Sule, he plans to work with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to install innovative post-harvest technologies like the Thiaroye smoking kiln to reduce post-harvest losses among fishermen.
His agenda also includes the second phase of Fisheries National Stock Assessments, which will analyse species availability and health conditions in Nigerian coastal waters.
In addition, he intends to revive dormant Artisanal fisheries training programs and assemble correct data on Fisheries Artisans and Marine fishing to establish their economic contributions.
Prof. Abiodun Sule is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research in Lagos. He is a qualified Marine Captain as well as an accomplished maritime expert. He recently led 6 Scientists from West African countries
to Sea on data gathering and analysis on the health of Nigeria Ocean and Brackish waters a
Program sponsored by POGO, Namibia.
His professional career has been defined by major accomplishments, and he has been the Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos, from January 1, 2014 to 2019 where he got all the accreditations of Nautical Science and other core programs and mounted Maritime Technology programs at both National Diploma and Higher National Levels. Surprisingly as a Provost/ CEO, he was also teaching the principle of Navigation, Practical Navigation and Safety at Sea.
Prior to this position, he was the Deputy Provost for Academics and Chief Lecturer at the College’s Nautical Science Department.
Prior to Joining the Marine College he was in Shell Petroleum Overseeing Crude Oil loading and Handling of L1, L2 and VLCC Tankers for more than a decade.
He’s a Marine Simulation expert and at the moment being invited to help reorganize the Nautical Science Department of the only Marine University in Nigeria.
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