Okezie receives MARCON award for excellence in Port management

Stanley Ihedigbo

Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Kenechi Okezie, has received the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Port Management and Operational Excellence Award in recognition of her leadership, professional commitment and contribution to efficient port operations.

The award was presented during the 2026 MARCON National Conference on Sustainable Fishing held on Wednesday in Lagos.

Okezie was recognised for her role in the administration of Rivers Port Complex and her contribution to improving operational efficiency, stakeholder engagement and service delivery within the Eastern maritime corridor.

The recognition also acknowledged her commitment to effective coordination of port operations and her efforts towards facilitating maritime trade and strengthening service delivery at the Rivers Port Complex.

Okezie has put in more than 24 years of service with the NPA, having joined the Authority in 2001.

During her career, she has served in various capacities at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos Port Complex and the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

Her appointment as Port Manager of Rivers Port Complex in December 2023 made her the youngest Port Manager in the history of the NPA at the time, while she also became the only female Port Manager under that appointing administration.

She was subsequently reappointed to the position in August 2024.

Beyond her core responsibilities, Okezie has served on several NPA committees and participated in industry initiatives aimed at strengthening port operations and maritime administration.

She served as Secretary of the Voyage Meeting Reconciliation Committee for five consecutive years and participated in the NPA Handbook Committee, Towage Operations Standard Operating Procedure Committee and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Steering Committee.

Academically, Okezie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Port Harcourt and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos.

She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Port Harcourt.

She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Diplomacy (ICAD) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), among other professional affiliations.

Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said Okezie’s recognition reflected her professional contribution to port management and the advancement of operational standards in Nigeria’s maritime industry.

According to him, the award provides an opportunity to recognise professionals whose work continues to contribute to the efficiency and development of Nigeria’s port system.

The conference, which attracted policymakers, regulators, maritime industry operators, researchers and other stakeholders, focused on the theme, “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods.”

Participants examined issues and opportunities surrounding the sustainable development of Nigeria’s fisheries sector, including food security, coastal livelihoods and the broader contribution of the maritime sector to national economic development.