Emphasizing the Importance of Cooperation in African Seaports
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, has highlighted the critical role of cooperation among African nations in advancing seaports across the continent. His remarks were made during the closing ceremony of the 45th Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA) held in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
Dantsoho, speaking in his capacity as President of PMAWCA, expressed confidence that the enthusiasm and goodwill demonstrated throughout the technical sessions and deliberations indicate that ports within the sub-region are well-prepared to tackle future challenges with renewed determination.
Represented by the General Manager Corporate Affairs of NPA, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, Dantsoho emphasized that the resolutions from the week-long meeting will play a significant role in shaping policy formulation and strengthening government action across member states.
He said, “On behalf of all of us at PMAWCA, thank you immensely for lending your time and expertise to advancing the frontiers of trade and prosperity by deploying your efforts, energies and experience to formulate ideas that will enable us, as a sub-region, to maximize the potentials of our maritime sector.”
Dantsoho expressed his hope for a time when the African community collaborates and acts in good faith for the greater good of the continent. He noted that the goodwill, enthusiasm, and altruism observed during the technical sessions and meetings, as evidenced by the robust exchange of ideas, have convinced him that the Ports of West and Central Africa are ready to face the future with confidence.
He reiterated that Africa’s geographical and economic realities demand stronger integration and cooperation, especially given the rapidly evolving global maritime environment.
Gratitude and Recognition
Dantsoho also extended his gratitude to the government and people of the Republic of Congo for their hospitality in hosting the Council. He commended the Secretary-General of PMAWCA, Mr. Koffi Jean Marie, as well as the Port of Pointe-Noire team and other partners for their excellent coordination.
He further applauded the unity of purpose demonstrated by Directors-General and Chief Executives of member ports, describing their contributions as “remarkable.”
Commitment to Implementation
Assuring participants of the implementation of the Council’s key decisions, he stated:
“This convergence of West and Central African talent to generate ideas for optimizing opportunities inherent in our maritime and demographic endowments will not only give direction to policy formulation, but will embolden government action, as the decisions and the communique arising from this meeting will be given the seriousness they deserve.”
As delegates prepared to depart, Dantsoho urged them to sustain the momentum of collaboration, invoking the popular words of global industrialist Henry Ford:
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”