Technology-driven reforms, customs digitalisation and the development of a future-ready maritime workforce will take centre stage as the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) hosts its 2026 Maritime Training Summit on September 4, 2026, in Lagos.
The one-day summit, scheduled to hold at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, from 10:00 a.m., is themed “The Power of Innovation in a Future-Ready Maritime Training Agenda.”
The event is expected to attract policymakers, regulators, heads of maritime agencies, port and shipping operators, academics, technology experts, training institutions and other stakeholders within Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy ecosystem.
Customs Innovation Takes Centre Stage
A major highlight of the summit will be a presentation by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, titled:
“An Overview of Customs Journey for National Economic Security Using Cutting-Edge Innovations.”
AMJON said the decision to place the Nigeria Customs Service prominently on the summit agenda reflects the growing role of technology in trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation, border management, cargo clearance and national economic security.
The association noted that the NCS has introduced a number of technology-driven and operational reforms aimed at modernising customs administration and improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s trading environment.
Among the reforms expected to receive attention is the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), popularly known as B’Odogwu, alongside its synchronisation with the National Single Window initiative.
According to AMJON, the increasing digitalisation of customs operations has changed the way cargo clearance, revenue collection, enforcement and trade facilitation are conducted, making technological competence an essential requirement for the modern maritime workforce.
From B’Odogwu to Drones: Technology Reshaping Customs
The summit will also examine other innovations being deployed to improve operational efficiency across the customs and maritime environment.
These include the Time Release Study, designed to identify bottlenecks and reduce delays in cargo clearance; the One Stop Shop approach, which seeks to harmonise the activities of relevant units; and the deployment of drones for geospatial border surveillance.
Participants will examine how such innovations can be sustained, replicated and integrated into Nigeria’s broader maritime human capital development strategy.
The discussions will also consider the skills required by customs officials, maritime professionals, logistics operators and other stakeholders to effectively operate within an increasingly automated and data-driven environment.
Digitalisation and the Future of the Blue Economy
AMJON said Nigeria’s ambition to unlock the economic potential of its blue economy cannot depend solely on its marine resources, coastal infrastructure and geographical advantages.
It must also be supported by a highly skilled indigenous workforce capable of deploying modern technologies across the maritime value chain.
The maritime sector encompasses ports, shipping, logistics, fisheries, offshore energy, shipbuilding and repairs, marine services and other emerging blue economy activities.
AMJON therefore stressed that continuous training, retraining, reskilling and professional development would be critical if Nigeria is to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global maritime industry.
Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Emerging Skills
The summit is expected to broaden the conversation beyond customs administration to examine the wider technological transformation taking place across the maritime industry.
Key areas of discussion will include:
Digital transformation of maritime operations;
Artificial intelligence and automation;
Future maritime skills;
Workforce reskilling and upskilling;
Maritime safety and security;
Technology-driven customs administration;
Port digitalisation;
Indigenous manpower development;
Innovation in maritime education; and
The impact of emerging technologies on maritime employment and professional practice.
Stakeholders will also explore how public-private partnerships, regulatory agencies, technology companies and maritime training institutions can collaborate to produce professionals capable of adapting to emerging technologies and evolving international maritime standards.
AMJON Targets Practical Outcomes
The summit is expected to draw senior government officials, maritime agency chiefs, representatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, shipping and port operators, terminal operators, freight forwarders, customs brokers, academics, maritime training institutions, technology companies and other blue economy stakeholders.
AMJON President, Vera Osokpo, said the summit was designed to stimulate practical conversations about the future of maritime training and ensure that Nigeria’s workforce keeps pace with technological developments transforming the global maritime industry.
Osokpo emphasised the importance of innovation-driven capacity development, noting that possessing maritime resources alone would not guarantee economic success unless Nigeria develops the human capacity required to convert those resources into sustainable economic value.
Strengthening Maritime Journalism
Beyond workforce development, the summit will provide an opportunity for maritime journalists to deepen their understanding of emerging technologies, regulatory changes and operational reforms within the sector.
AMJON believes better-informed journalists will be better positioned to provide specialised reporting, interrogate reforms, explain complex technological developments to the public and strengthen accountability across the maritime industry.
This is particularly important as digitalisation increasingly affects customs administration, port operations, shipping, logistics, border security and trade facilitation.
The Ameh News Analysis: From Technology Adoption to Human Capacity
The central message emerging from the summit is that digital transformation cannot succeed through technology acquisition alone.
The deployment of platforms such as B’Odogwu, National Single Window systems, surveillance drones, artificial intelligence and automated processes will only deliver their full economic value when supported by professionals who understand how to operate, manage, secure and continuously improve those systems.
For Nigeria, this places maritime human capital development at the heart of the blue economy agenda.
The real test will therefore be whether technological reforms translate into faster cargo clearance, lower transaction costs, stronger revenue collection, improved border security, greater transparency and more competitive Nigerian ports.
The September 4 summit provides an important platform for stakeholders to move that conversation from policy statements to measurable outcomes.
Ultimately, AMJON expects the summit to generate practical recommendations capable of supporting the development of a future-ready maritime workforce, strengthening technology adoption and contributing to Nigeria’s broader efforts to unlock the economic potential of the blue economy.
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