In a landmark recognition of regulatory excellence, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr. Akutah Pius Ukeyima, MON, is set to be honoured with the prestigious Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Lifetime Achievement Award.
The elite honour recognizes his monumental contributions to Nigeria’s maritime architecture, particularly his pioneering role in shaping port economic regulations and driving structural reforms across the industry.
Dr. Akutah’s career highlights a transformative journey spanning the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) to the emergence of NPERA as the nation’s apex port economic regulator. During his tenure at the NSC, Akutah was instrumental in designing the foundational port economic regulatory framework—a deep institutional experience that continues to steer his leadership as the pioneer head of NPERA. This critical transition from the NSC to NPERA positions him at the centre of Nigeria’s modern maritime evolution, as port economic regulation shifts toward a more structured, effective, and sophisticated ecosystem.
The NPERA DG is scheduled to receive the award at the high-profile MARCON 2026 National Conference on Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria, slated for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos.
Beyond institutional oversight, Akutah’s maritime track record is distinguished by robust stakeholder engagement and the proactive resolution of complex industry disputes. MARCON heavily commended his emphasis on fairness, transparency, and his commitment to fostering collaborative synergy between regulatory authorities and commercial operators.
Confirming the selection, the Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, stated that the award reflects the profound breadth of Akutah’s public service.
“Dr. Akutah’s recognition reflects the impact of his years of service to Nigeria’s maritime sector and his contribution to the development of a stronger economic regulatory framework for the ports. MARCON considers the award a fitting acknowledgement of a career that has combined professional commitment, institutional development and service to the industry,” Ogbuokiri said.
Ogbuokiri added that the honour reinforces MARCON’s mandate to celebrate elite professionals whose careers actively drive the growth of Nigeria’s maritime space, noting that Akutah’s progression to the helm of NPERA marks a historic phase in the evolution of port economics.
As a major highlight of the event, the NPERA Chief Executive will deliver a high-value presentation titled, “Port Economic Regulation as a Catalyst for Sustainable Fishing and Blue-Economy Development in Nigeria.”
According to Ogbuokiri, an array of heavyweights across the public and private maritime domains will also deliver strategic presentations at this epoch-making event. Leading the high-level speaker lineup are the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigerian Navy (NN),
Other key institutions and industry groups billed to speak include:
- Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA)
- Primlaks Nigeria Ltd
- Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN)
- Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT)
- Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) / Ocean Institute
- Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems
The conference, running under the theme, “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” will converge an elite group of policymakers, regulators, maritime security agencies, fishing industry giants, academic researchers, and coastal community leaders. The platform is strategically engineered to hammer out actionable blueprints to scale Nigeria’s fisheries sector, lock in food security, and multiply employment opportunities along the nation’s coastlines.
