Stakeholders in the maritime industry have said that the late former rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Olu Akinsoji, was an epitome of the industry.

They said this during the Night of Tribute for the late rector in Lagos on Tuesday.

Mr Akinsoji died on January 16 and would be buried on Friday.

The president, marine engineers and surveyors, Israel Obadan, said Mr Akinsoji’s death was a great loss to the marine industry.

He said they would forever celebrate him for his knowledge, and exposure he gave to many seafarers in Nigeria.

He stated, “Mr Akinsoji was my first contact with a seafarer in 1976 in Takoradi port in Ghana. Mr Akinsoji embarked on an impressive career journey, after his cadetship programme; he was promoted to a junior marine engineer, rising to the position of chief marine engineer. Thereafter, he was made the shipping company’s fleet engineer superintendent. 

“He was appointed Government Inspector of Shipping, a position he came to glorify. He became Nigeria’s Alternate Representative to the Internationalisation Maritime Organisation of the United Nations under whose tenure Nigeria was admitted into the IMO.’’

Mr Akinsoji died at 79.

An octogenarian, 85-year old seafarer, Capt. Anthony Olubode, said sea career was the best career on earth.

He said that Mr Akinsoji also had difficult moments during his career; he was almost sacked due to propaganda in Oron, but he overcame it with his integrity and sincerity.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and maritime lawyer, Jean Anishere, described Mr Akinsoji as a great mentor.

Mr Anishere said that the late Mr Akinsoji was always eager and pleased to share his knowledge and never unavailable to participate in any maritime symposium.

He added that Mr Akinsoji was a great teacher, mentor and a disciplinarian.

Ex- Director in Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Manye Obi, said Mr Akinsoji was a repository of knowledge.

Mr Obi said that when Nigeria was blacklisted from IMO, Mr Akinsoji was one of the professionals who supported with brilliant ideas and policy, which gave Nigeria recommendations.

Another SAN, Chidi Ilogu, described Mr Akinsoji as a soft-spoken person and an asset to Nigeria in the maritime industry.

One of Mr Akinsoji’s course mates, Capt. Daniel Ayo, said Mr Akinsoji started the idea of sensitising passengers to NIWA jetties more than 40 years ago, saying that he had always loved impacting knowledge to people.

A former President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarder, Eugene Nweke, said Mr Akinsoji impacted so much in his maritime career.

Osuala Nwagbara sympathised with his family and maritime industry, adding that he would be remembered for impacting positively to the Nigerian Port Consultative Council.

The chairman, Port Consultative Council, Bolaji Sumola, also extolled his virtues.

 A former Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Chinwe Ezenwa, described Akinsoji as an encyclopaedia of maritime, simple and ever supportive.

She sympathised with his family and prayed to God to grant him eternal rest.

Chaplain, Mission to Seafarers, Lagos, Rev Bimbo Aduroja, prayed for the deceased and urged everyone to be concerned with leading a good life.

“Death can come from anywhere, that is the reason we have to fear the creator and amend our ways positively at all times,” Mr Aduroja said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Shipping, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, said the late Akinsoji was a good engineer who started his career as a ship service.

He said Mr Akinsoji was faithful and made friends daily, adding that the deceased got on famous terms with his colleagues and friends. 

(NAN)