Former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, is set to make a highly anticipated return to Nigeria’s maritime conference circuit as a keynote speaker at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference scheduled for June 25 and 26, 2026, in Lagos.
Organisers announced that Peterside, a respected maritime policy expert and management reform advocate, will deliver a keynote address at the conference holding at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island.
His participation marks his first keynote appearance at a maritime event in Nigeria in five years, following a series of high-profile engagements at international maritime conferences across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya and China.
Widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading maritime thought leaders, Peterside served as President of the Association of African Maritime Administrations and is credited with spearheading major reforms during his tenure as Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMASA.
At the conference, he is expected to speak on the theme, “From Policy to Implementation,” a topic that aligns with his extensive experience in public policy formulation and institutional transformation.
Beyond the maritime sector, Peterside is known for his contributions to public policy discourse and regularly writes opinion pieces for leading Nigerian newspapers. He is also a familiar voice at conferences in the banking, oil and gas, and governance sectors.
The conference is being organised by WISTA Nigeria, the first national Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association chapter established in Africa. Founded in 1994, the organisation is celebrating 32 years of promoting leadership and professional development within the maritime industry.
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Under the leadership of its President, Dr. Odunayo Ani, WISTA Nigeria has positioned the 2026 conference as a major international gathering, attracting participants from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.
Discussions at the two-day event will focus on critical issues shaping the future of the maritime sector, including the Blue Economy, energy transition, digital transformation, diversity and inclusion.
Industry observers say Peterside’s return to the Nigerian maritime stage is expected to generate significant interest among stakeholders, given his track record in maritime administration and his growing influence in international maritime policy circles.
His keynote address is expected to provide insights into bridging the gap between policy formulation and effective implementation, a challenge confronting many institutions across Africa’s maritime sector.
For many delegates, his appearance at the conference will not only be a keynote presentation but also a symbolic return of one of Nigeria’s most influential maritime reformers to a domestic industry platform.