SOAN unveils new executive council

Abiola Seun

The Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) over the weekend inaugurated the newly elected executive council members of the association.

SOAN an association founded in 2015 comprises indigenous ship owning companies with proven track records of active participation in the maritime industry, including the upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas sub sector.

The event witnessed a change of leadership baton from former President and executives to the newly elected executive council members

Recall that the association last month elected a new executive led by a medical practitioner, Doctor MkGeorge Onyung, to lead the association for the next two years as its President.

Thus becoming successor to the renown shipping mogul and immediate past President, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and former Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Chief Adebayo Sarunmi said the association has proven to be steadfast against all odds.

According to him ” In my widest imagination I never thought that SOAN will be here today

“I never thought that there are Nigerians who can actually make things happened in the shipping industry like the out going President and his executives.

“Greg has proven to be extremely visionary, having the ability to lead people and that is why we are here today.

“This is the first time we will have ship Owners in the real sense of it in the world.

” And am happy we are getting it right, because left for foreign ship owners they will not want us to have an association like this, just because they want to monopolized the Industry.

” I knew where we are five years ago, and I know where we are today, so I know very soon when African Ships owners are emerging Nigeria will lead Africa and SOAN is going to be the forerunner.

“I am happy that the election is without rancour and that is because all of you supported each other”.

He urged the newly executives to work hand in hand to achieve greater result.

” Together you have been able to achieve quite a lot and I believe the new executives will emulates same and do more.

” Remember it is not only the IOC’s that are expecting you to perform, please remember that rest of Nigerians want to carry their cargo in Nigeria ships” he said.

Speaking earlier the outgoing President Greg Ogbeifun said the ship owners association has proven to be the bedrock of the maritime industry.

“The Maritime industry and shipping industry will amount to nothing without ships, so the ship owners is of utmost importance’.

“I appreciate the ship owners for their support, they have made SOAN have international recognition.

” I am very proud for the support you gave to me and the outgoing president without you there won’t be SOAN

“I believe this association will continue to drive things and make things happen in the industry.

“To the press you have made SOAN what it is today, without whom SOAN won’t have been here today I request that same support you gave to me will be given to the new executive.”

Members of the newly elected executives council includes Dr. MkGeorge Onyung (President), Eno Williams,Babalola Adefarati, Iroghama Obuoforibo, Wisdom Nwagwu, Rotarian Lucky Akhiwu, Dr. Luis Ekere, Gbolahan Shaba.

The inauguration was graced by the creme de la creme in the Maritime industry.