“NSML MD: Capacity Building is the Engine Driving Port Efficiency and Safer, Smarter Shipping”

The Managing Director of NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed

At a pivotal gathering of maritime stakeholders, the Managing Director of NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), Mr. Abdulkadir Ahmed, has unveiled a bold vision to anchor Nigeria’s maritime sector firmly in the global green transition. The announcement, which came during the 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON), signals a transformative era where training and sustainability are at the heart of maritime development.

Represented by Chief Finance Officer, Mr. Mutiu Olayiwola, Ahmed delivered a keynote address that captured the imagination of industry players, policymakers, and the next generation of maritime professionals. The conference, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, carried the theme: “Maritime Development: Training, Port Efficiency, and Shipping Imperatives.”

Ahmed’s presentation, titled “The Evolving Global Maritime Regulatory Environment – The Role of Maritime Training and Capacity Development,” drew attention to the growing pressure on the maritime industry to respond to global climate goals and new regulatory frameworks. He emphasized that while training remains the cornerstone of industry competence, it must now evolve to meet the demands of a greener, more technologically advanced shipping environment.

“NSML is not just preparing seafarers for today’s challenges; we are equipping them to lead tomorrow’s solutions,” he stated through Olayiwola. “We are integrating climate-smart strategies and fostering a culture of innovation to ensure Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.”

He stressed that Nigeria’s maritime workforce must be future-ready, with a curriculum aligned to new environmental mandates, digitalisation, and the decarbonisation of shipping. According to him, capacity development in this context is no longer optional, it is the key differentiator for nations seeking relevance in the evolving maritime ecosystem.

The AMJON conference brought together voices from across the maritime sector who echoed the importance of capacity building as a central pillar in transforming port efficiency and ensuring safe, competitive shipping operations. Panelists praised NSML’s proactive strategy, highlighting it as a model that should be replicated across both public and private maritime institutions.

Beyond policy, Ahmed’s speech also touched on the human angle—how training and upskilling are vital not just for compliance but for creating jobs, empowering youth, and positioning Nigeria as a maritime hub in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) era.

As the conference concluded, one message rang clear: Nigeria’s path to maritime leadership is green, digital, and driven by people. With NSML’s strategy as a lighthouse, the industry now faces the challenge, and opportunity, of steering toward a sustainable, inclusive future.

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