Otunba Olufemi Tajudeen Orioye, a distinguished media professional and community advocate, has been honoured with the Media Merit Award for Outstanding Media Practice by TransQuest Media Group. The award was presented during the organization’s 20th anniversary celebration and Media Excellence Seminar/Awards held at Airport Hotel, Lagos.

Professor Iyiola Oni, a University of Lagos scholar and the Oba-Odo of Ijeshaland, presented the award, commending Otunba Orioye for his dedication to impactful journalism and community development. Orioye, who also leads the Network Against Drug Abuse and Cultism (NACA), was encouraged to view the recognition as a call to deepen his societal contributions.

Otunba Orioye, who began his journalism career in 1996 at the defunct New Nigerian Newspaper,NNN, Ijora in Lagos worked in many media organisations before he later joined Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Abeokuta where he is presently a Manager News in the Department of News and Current Affairs.

Delivering the keynote address titled “Leveraging Nigeria’s Maritime Potentials to Drive Economic Growth,” Professor Oni highlighted critical inefficiencies in Nigeria’s port infrastructure as the following:

– Lack of regulation and absence of a robust operational framework
– Exorbitant port charges, among the highest globally, deterring business
– Ineffectiveness of the Cabotage Act, which has failed to empower local shipowners
– Obsolete port systems, lagging behind regional competitors like Ghana

He advocated for a comprehensive regulatory overhaul, including:

– Establishing a strong, independent port regulator
– Reducing and harmonizing port charges to boost competitiveness
– Revising the Cabotage Act to fulfil its original intent of building indigenous maritime capacity
– Developing a single, world-class trans-shipment port to position Nigeria as a regional hub

Professor Oni also lauded TransQuest for its two decades of service to the maritime industry and urged stakeholders to continue supporting its mission.

The event attracted prominent figures from the maritime and media sectors, including:

– ACG Charles Orbih, Assistant Comptroller General, Zone A
– Professor Bamidele Badejo, Chairman, Lagos State Government Professional Endowment on Transport and Logistics Studies, LASU.
– Mr. Lucky Amiwero, President, NCMDLCA
– Representatives from NPA, NIMASA, NSC, MWUN, clearing agents, and maritime journalists.