Nigeria’s maritime sector is on the verge of a sweeping transformation as the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) and the Admiralty University of Nigeria (ADUN) have formalized a historic technical partnership.
The alliance was unveiled during IMION’s maiden official visit to the ADUN campus in Ibusa, Delta State recently. Uniting two premier institutions rooted in the traditions of the Nigerian Navy, this collaboration directly bridges the chasm between academic theory and real-world maritime imperatives. During the visit, the IMION Director-General, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Christopher Udofia (Rtd), Ph.D., presented the strategic roadmap directly to the ADUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christopher Bankole Ndubuisi Ogbogbo.
“This visit marks a new vista in our quest for excellence,” stated Rear Admiral Udofia. “We are engineering a powerful synergy to deepen local capacity, shape industry regulations, and unlock the immense billion-dollar potential of Nigeria’s blue economy for national development.”
Dr. Udofia further commended the transformational strides and massive infrastructural expansion recorded at ADUN, describing the ongoing campus modernization as remarkable and highly strategic.
Established in June 2024 by the Nigerian Navy, IMION has already trained over 500 C-suite executives and top government policymakers. To accelerate this momentum, the new pact introduces specialized executive programs designed to advance global maritime knowledge, transitioning the partnership from theory to concrete field practice effective September 2026.
Similarly, IMION has officially invited ADUN’s leadership to its high-profile Executive Course, “Logistics and Trade Facilitation for Blue Economy Growth.” The program is scheduled to run from September 7 to 9, 2026, at the IMION Auditorium, NNS QUORRA Complex in Apapa, Lagos, with hybrid and virtual attendance options available for both local and international participants
Responding, Professor Ogbogbo warmly welcomed the IMION delegation, noting that the alliance is perfectly synchronized with the University’s capacity-building needs.
“This partnership is exceptionally timely,” Professor Ogbogbo stated. “ADUN will harvest profound benefits from IMION’s practical field knowledge, joint research opportunities, and advanced manpower development. This institutional support will immediately include the engagement of distinguished adjunct professors and visiting maritime scholars.”
Professor Ogbogbo also announced that ADUN naval architectural students will embark on an educational tour of shipbuilding facilities in Lagos and Port Harcourt to gain first-hand technical exposure.
