|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Nigeria’s maritime, oil and gas, and public-sector stakeholders, on Friday evening, converged to honour Mr. Sylvester Egede, former Assistant General Manager, Managing Director’s office of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), at the launch of his memoir, ‘Lion of the Port Corridor: Strategy is Everything.’
The event was as much a celebration of a book as it was a reunion of a closely knit maritime family – friends, former colleagues, industry leaders, kingsmen, golfers, and immediate family members – who gathered in high spirits to celebrate a life defined by service, strategy, and excellence.
Leading the chorus of goodwill was the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho; Chairman of Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi; Chairman of Into Group, Dr. Cletus Ibeto; and a Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Jonathan Ukhodiko. Together with other dignitaries, they described the memoir as a fitting tribute to a professional whose influence helped shape Nigeria’s port operations and institutional growth over the years.
Speaking through the General Manager, MD’s Office, Mr. Fatai Oladipo, Dr. Dantsoho, commended Egede for documenting his professional journey, noting that the book offers invaluable lessons for both current and aspiring maritime professionals.
The NPA boss also praised Egede’s enduring contributions to port development and operational efficiency during his years of service at the Authority.
Also represented at the event by Capt. Ibrahim Olugbade, the Managing Director of Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, applauded Egede for transforming lived experience into a guide for leadership and decision-making.
The SIFAX boss observed that the lessons embedded in the memoir transcend the maritime sector and would remain relevant to corporate professionals across diverse fields for years to come.
Providing a thoughtful review of the book, former NPA General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Captain Iheanacho Ebubeogu, noted that the memoir traces Egede’s journey from childhood through adulthood, highlighting the role of strong parental values, discipline, and early exposure to strategy in shaping his personal and professional development.
In an atmosphere charged with nostalgia and pride, Egede shared insights into what inspired the memoir, pointing to his role in resolving the long-standing traffic gridlock along the Mile 2–Tin Can Island Port corridor as a defining moment in his career.
His words: “I have always been a strategy person, even from childhood. What truly prompted this book was the experience of clearing the traffic congestion between Mile 2 and the Tin Can Island Port corridor. We did not raise guns or use force. What committees had struggled with for years, I approached with strategic thinking and SWOT analysis. The truckers understood, agreed, and left the road before the deadline.”
He added that the experience reinforced his belief that solutions often lie within reach for those willing to look deeply and think differently.
The gathering was further enriched by the presence of several prominent industry figures, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Mr. Bolaji Sunmola; President of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi; former Director-General of NIMASA, Barr. Temisan Omatseye; former President of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung; Managing Director of Greenview Development Nigeria Limited, Mr. Akin Omole; Founder of Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), Hajia Aisha Ali-Ibrahim; Chief Executive Officer, Eko Support Services Limited, Mr. Oluwaseni Edu; among others.
As laughter, warm embraces, and shared memories filled the venue, the book launch evolved into a celebration of legacy for Mr. Sylvester Egede’s place in Nigeria’s maritime history.
