The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez and Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, have commended the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) for its impact in maritime training just a year after its establishment.
Domínguez, who visited the institute on Friday, October 3, 2025, as part of his three-day official tour of Nigeria, described IMION’s facilities as “commendable” and praised the leadership of its Director General, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (Rtd).
“I congratulate IMION for providing a strong platform for maritime training, education, and research. This Institute is already making a difference in shaping future maritime professionals,” Domínguez said.
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Accompanied by Oyetola, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Barr. Pius Akurah, the IMO chief toured IMION’s facilities and interacted with faculty members.
Oyetola also lauded the institute’s progress, describing its infrastructure as “impressive” and thanking Udofia and his team for the warm reception.
Udofia, in his remarks, expressed appreciation to Domínguez for visiting and reaffirmed IMION’s mission to serve as a hub for maritime strategy, education, and research. “Our goal is to expand Nigeria’s participation in the blue economy by addressing challenges in maritime security, governance, and policy through targeted programmes and training,” he said.
Providing a background on the institute, Udofia explained that IMION was established on June 1, 2024, by the Nigerian Navy to function as a think-tank and research centre dedicated to advancing maritime knowledge. Since inception, the institute has trained participants across public and private sectors, with a focus on the Gulf of Guinea.
He added that IMION has conducted more than six courses and workshops, including its flagship Research Programme, which invites scholars to contribute to maritime policy development.
The IMO chief and other dignitaries concluded their visit with a tour of IMION’s academic and research facilities, underscoring the institute’s role as a growing force in Nigeria’s maritime landscape.
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