SOAN to Hold Election

SOAN to Hold Election

Eromosele Abiodun

In a bid to entrench transparency in the election of its executive, the outgoing executive of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) has invited government agencies in the maritime sector to monitor its upcoming election.

This is coming after the completion of the funeral rites of the of SOAN’s current President, Greg Utowen Ogbeifun.

Sources told THISDAY that serious campaigns by members of SOAN have begun in earnest.

A member of SOAN who did not want his name in print confirmed that a Returning Officer had already been appointed for an election which may hold this week.

The inauguration of the yet to be elected executives was also slated to hold on the 30th of March, 2019.

The source told THISDAY that invited several stakeholders and government parastatals, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) amongst others, to oversee the election because of its desire to sustain its characteristic high profile, objectivity, standard.

Ogbeifun, had on 11th December last year, publicly announced at the SOAN’s 2018 End of Year Workshop and Dinner in Lagos, that he would be stepping down as head of the altruistic ship-owners’ body in March 2019, when the tenure of the present executive would end, to enable members elect another dynamic ship-owner, having served the statutory two-tenure, constitutionally allowed.

He observed at the 2018 Dinner: “It is with mixed feelings that I address you at this gathering for the last time in my capacity as the President of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN).

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the Industry stakeholders and Government MDA’s for the commitment, support and encouragement they have accorded the association since inception.

“I urge you to accord the same to the incoming President and EXCO of this honourable Association so that we can consolidate on the gains we have made so far in order to reposition the Maritime and Shipping Industry as a strategic driver for the national economic development of our dear nation. I also want to express my profound gratitude to the EXCO’s (past and present) of SOAN for their ardent commitment to achieving the Association’s objectives. 

“And finally, I would like to thank the esteemed members of this great Association for giving me the opportunity to serve,” he concluded.

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