NAGAFF President invested as MARCON Patron, honoured for industry excellence

Stanley Ihedigbo

National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Chief Tochukwu Emmanuel Ezisi, has been honoured with the prestigious Freight Forwarder of the Year Award by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) and formally invested as a Patron of the association in recognition of his remarkable contributions to freight forwarding and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

The twin honours were conferred during the 2026 MARCON Annual Conference, held on Thursday at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The conference brought together top government officials, regulators, maritime experts, port managers, freight forwarders and other industry stakeholders to deliberate on the theme: “Special economic zones as catalysts to sustainable blue economy.”

Speaking during the investiture ceremony, Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Mr. Paul Ogbuokiri, said the decision to confer Patronship on Chief Ezisi was informed by his exemplary leadership, unwavering commitment to the growth of the freight forwarding profession and his consistent support for initiatives that promote professionalism, industry development and sustainable growth within the maritime sector.

According to Ogbuokiri, Chief Ezisi has distinguished himself both as the National President of NAGAFF and the Managing Director of Emmatoks Agencies Limited through sustained advocacy for trade facilitation, capacity building, policy reforms and operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports and logistics value chain.

He noted that the Freight Forwarder of the Year Award is reserved for outstanding industry leaders whose vision, innovation and dedication have made lasting contributions to the freight forwarding profession and the nation’s maritime economy.

“Chief Ezisi has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing the interests of freight forwarders while promoting policies that enhance trade facilitation and port efficiency. His contributions have earned him the respect of stakeholders across the maritime industry,” Ogbuokiri stated.

The MARCON Chairman further expressed confidence that Chief Ezisi’s investiture as a Patron of the association would strengthen collaboration between maritime journalists and industry operators in promoting informed discourse, transparency and sustainable development within the sector.

Chief Ezisi, who was represented at the event by the National Secretary of NAGAFF, Mr. Geoffrey Nwosu, expressed appreciation to MARCON for the recognition and assured the association of his continued support in advancing the objectives of the freight forwarding profession and Nigeria’s maritime industry.

Nwosu reaffirmed the commitment of the NAGAFF President to promoting professionalism, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, supporting reforms that improve port operations and contributing to policies that enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.

He said Chief Ezisi remains committed to working with government agencies, industry stakeholders and the media to build a more efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime sector capable of driving economic growth and supporting Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations.

The conference also featured presentations and panel discussions by leading maritime experts, who highlighted the strategic importance of efficient port infrastructure, seamless logistics systems and well-managed Special Economic Zones in attracting investment, boosting industrialisation, increasing exports and creating employment opportunities.

Participants agreed that stronger collaboration among government institutions, port authorities, freight forwarders, investors and the media would be essential to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector and positioning the country as a leading hub for trade and logistics in Africa.

The recognition of Chief Ezisi was widely applauded by delegates, who described the honour as a fitting tribute to a maritime professional whose leadership and commitment continue to shape the future of freight forwarding and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime industry.