The President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, has been crowned Maritime Woman of the Year 2026 at the fifth anniversary lecture and awards ceremony of Primetime Reporters, held in Lagos last week.
Ani was among 14 maritime personalities and institutions honoured at the event, which was chaired by Barr. Temisan Omatseye, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The anniversary lecture was themed “Smarter Gateways, Greener Logistics: Leveraging Port Community System and National Single Window for Seamless Trade Flows.”
The event featured keynote presentations and panel discussions examining the operational realities and ideals of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy initiatives, as well as strategies for improving trade facilitation through digitalisation, institutional collaboration and more efficient port operations.
Among the distinguished awardees was Barr. Pius Akutah, Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), who emerged as Public Sector CEO of the Year 2026.
Mrs. Olaitan Williams, President of the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, received the Blue Economy Ambassador of the Year 2026 award, while Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was named Maritime Man of the Year.
Similarly, Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Blue Economy, received the Blue Economy Champion of the Year award.
Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), was recognised as Maritime Industry Advocacy Champion of the Year.
The Sea Empowerment Research Centre (SEREC) also received recognition for its contributions to maritime research, policy advocacy and blue economy development.
Beyond the intellectual engagement and professional recognition, the event was enlivened by the glamour and elegance of the women who graced the occasion.
Their presence added colour and sophistication to the gathering, providing a relaxed and convivial atmosphere for networking and interaction among industry stakeholders while complementing the serious discussions on maritime development, green logistics and trade facilitation.
Enjoy the pictorial production. MMS Plus was there.
