By Seun Ibiyemi
Momentum is gathering for the 10th edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference (TAAM) as the Maritime Forum of the University of Lagos, in partnership with SIFAX Group, prepares to host what organisers describe as West Africa’s largest student-led maritime conference.
The conference, scheduled to hold from July 20 to 21, 2026, is expected to attract over 2,000 participants drawn from government, academia, the maritime industry, corporate organisations and the media.
Over the past decade, SIFAX Group has remained a major supporter of the conference, helping to position TAAM as a platform for youth engagement, industry collaboration and maritime capacity development.
This year’s edition, themed, “Ten Tides of Impact: Raising a Generation to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Blue Giant,” will commemorate 10 years of promoting maritime education, policy discourse and youth leadership.
The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and policy conversations involving key stakeholders in the maritime sector, including maritime lawyer, Dr. Emeka Akabogu; Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi; President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA Nigeria), Dr. Odunayo Ani; as well as representatives of the Danish Consulate and other maritime organisations.
Speaking ahead of the conference, President of the Maritime Forum, Dare Tunde Damilola, described the anniversary edition as a legacy platform designed to strengthen collaboration between academia and industry while nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals and policymakers.
According to him, the conference seeks to stimulate discussions on the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry, bridge the gap between students and practitioners, encourage innovation and leadership among young people, deepen stakeholder engagement and create opportunities for networking, mentorship and career development.
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Also speaking, the Group Head, Corporate Communications at SIFAX Group, Olumuyiwa Akande, said the company’s sustained support for the initiative reflects its commitment to promoting practical industry knowledge and stimulating students’ interest in the maritime sector.
Akande noted that the conference serves as a strategic platform for connecting academic theory with real-world industry practice, thereby contributing to the development of future maritime leaders.
A major highlight of this year’s event will be the anniversary edition of the Blueprint Debate Competition, one of the conference’s flagship intellectual programmes.
Since its inception in 2016, the competition has evolved into a nationally recognised platform that provides university students with the opportunity to engage in structured debates on maritime, economic, governance and public policy issues.
