ABUJA – In a glittering ceremony that celebrated Africa’s brightest leaders and innovators, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Esq. OFR was crowned Maritime Icon of the Year 2025 at the prestigious 7th Leadership Excellence Awards. The historic event, held at the Nigerian Air Force NAF Banquet Hall Abuja and endorsed by the African Union and African Film Institute, recognized Dr. Jamoh’s extraordinary achievements in transforming Nigeria’s maritime sector and securing the nation’s waters.
The 7th LEEX Awards, renowned as Africa’s premier online media awards packaged by IgbereTV, brought together an impressive gathering of dignitaries including former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; Former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and business magnates Tony Elumelu and Tonye Cole. Amidst this distinguished company, Dr. Jamoh’s recognition highlighted the critical role of maritime security in national development and economic prosperity.
Dr. Jamoh’s leadership has fundamentally rewritten Nigeria’s maritime narrative, turning troubled waters into pathways of economic opportunity. His most celebrated achievement – the groundbreaking Deep Blue Project – represents Africa’s most comprehensive maritime security initiative, integrating air, land and sea assets into an impenetrable shield that has nearly eradicated piracy from Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
The impact of this security transformation has been both immediate and profound. Under Dr. Jamoh’s strategic direction, Nigeria achieved the remarkable milestone of being delisted from the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy red list – a feat that has dramatically lowered insurance premiums for vessels, boosted investor confidence, and positioned Nigeria as a trusted partner in global trade networks.
What sets Dr. Jamoh apart is his holistic vision that extends far beyond maritime security. As a respected author and technocrat, he has championed digital transformation across port operations, streamlined clearance processes that have reduced vessel waiting times, and vigorously enforced the Cabotage Act to ensure Nigerian professionals and vessel owners reap the benefits of their nation’s maritime resources.
His commitment to capacity building has created a new generation of maritime professionals, while his international diplomacy has elevated Nigeria’s standing in global maritime affairs. The Maritime Icon award, determined through a transparent nationwide poll monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria, recognizes not just his technical accomplishments but his success in restoring Nigeria’s maritime reputation on the world stage.
Dr. Jamoh’s recognition at the 7th LEEX Awards serves as powerful testament to how strategic leadership in critical sectors can drive national transformation. In honoring his achievements, the awards celebrate the vital connection between secure waters and national prosperity, between technical excellence and economic growth – a lesson in leadership that resonates far beyond the maritime domain.
