The Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) will honour the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, alongside the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Olufemi Ogunyemi, and the Managing Director of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Usman Bamanga Jada, at its 2026 Annual Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event, slated for Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Hotel Presidential, will bring together key stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime, trade, and industrial sectors to deliberate on the theme: “Special Economic Zones as Catalysts to Sustainable Blue Economy.”
According to the organisers, Governor Fubara will attend the conference as Special Guest of Honour and is expected to declare the event open. He will also be conferred with the MARCON Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of the blue economy and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Rivers State.
MARCON noted that Rivers State occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s maritime and economic landscape, hosting major stakeholders within the SEZs ecosystem, including regulatory agencies and private sector operators. The state’s role in advancing industrial growth, trade facilitation, and logistics development continues to position it as a critical hub in the country’s economic diversification drive.
In the same vein, Ogunyemi will receive the MARCON Award of Excellence for Economic Development for his leadership at NEPZA, where he has overseen significant reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones framework.
Under his stewardship, the zones have attracted substantial investments, improved ease of doing business, and expanded their role in driving exports and industrialisation.
Similarly, Bamanga Jada will be honoured with the MARCON Award of Excellence for Economic Development for his impactful leadership at OGFZA.
The authority has recorded notable growth through increased investments, infrastructure expansion, and strategic initiatives aimed at deepening Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones as engines of economic growth and job creation.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the event is designed to deepen conversations around the role of SEZs in driving sustainable economic growth.
According to him, the conference will provide a platform for robust engagement among policymakers, regulators, and private sector players, with discussions expected to highlight the challenges, opportunities, and prospects within Nigeria’s SEZs and blue economy space.
“This year’s conference is particularly significant as it brings into focus the critical intersection between Special Economic Zones and the blue economy, both of which remain vital to Nigeria’s long-term economic sustainability”, he said.
Ogbuokiri highlighted that the awards segment of the conference is intended to recognise individuals whose contributions have had measurable impact on national development.
“These recognitions are not just ceremonial; they reflect tangible contributions to economic development, investment growth, and sectoral transformation within Nigeria’s maritime and industrial space”, he added.
On his part, MARCON President, Ismail Aniemu, emphasised the strategic importance of aligning SEZs with Nigeria’s broader blue economy agenda, noting that the conference is coming at a critical time when the country is seeking sustainable pathways for economic diversification.
Aniemu stated that MARCON remains committed to fostering informed discourse and policy advocacy within the maritime sector, adding that the conference will not only spotlight industry achievements but also generate actionable insights to support government and private sector collaboration.
The organisation added that the event will also recognise other individuals and institutions whose contributions have significantly advanced national economic development, particularly within the maritime and industrial sectors.
