The Institute of Maritime Innovation of Nigeria (IMION) has commenced its Management Staff Executive Course on Strategic Leadership for the Centre of Excellence for the Blue Economy, with a focus on organizational development and change management.
Speaking at the opening session in Lagos on Thursday, the Director General of IMION, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (Rtd.), described the programme as a timely initiative to build capacity for the institute’s staff and to position Nigeria’s maritime sector for greater impact in the global blue economy.
Udofia, who also tied the event to the commemoration of World Maritime Day 2025, said the establishment of IMION’s Centre of Excellence represented more than an institutional milestone.
“It signals a bold vision for leadership, knowledge generation, and regional transformation,” he stated. “This course is about building fundamental competences, leadership skills, and operational efficiency to support the institute’s growth and strategic objectives.”
The DG emphasized that strategic leadership and organizational development were crucial to transforming vision into measurable impact, adding that participants must cultivate a culture of excellence rooted in learning, innovation, and collaboration.
According to him, the key learning objectives of the course include managing organizational change, understanding transition frameworks, scaling operations, building high-performing teams, and strengthening negotiation techniques for effective partnerships.
Udofia also expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, the IMION Governing Board, faculty members, and the institute’s consultants for their support of the programme.
In a keynote presentation, Prof. Freedom Onuoha of the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said Nigeria’s vast coastline, rich marine resources, and demographic strength positioned the country to take a leading role in the emerging global “new economy.”
Onuoha, a maritime security and policy expert, stressed that harnessing this potential would require deliberate effort, strategic leadership, and strong institutions.
“The potentials and the possibility of harnessing a new economy require deliberate effort,” he noted. “An institution like IMION must rise to become a centre of excellence where knowledge is cultivated, leadership is forged, and solutions are generated to unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s new economy.”
He also called for the development of a world-class curriculum, robust international partnerships, and a culture of innovation that would position IMION as a global hub of research, training, and policy engagement in the blue economy.
The event brought together IMION staff, stakeholders, academics, and maritime experts to deliberate on strategies for building capacity and strengthening Nigeria’s maritime sector in line with global sustainability goals.