In these days where integrity, competence, excellence and dedication to duty is a treasure-trove in the Nigerian Public Service, Dr. Dakuku came with all and more into the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA] where he shone brilliantly to the very astonishment of the President and other major stakeholders in the industry.
Peterside, who has earned a smooth reputation as a turn -around Management expert and Leadership strategist has contributed, through his impeccable management skills, to providing major economic stimulus for Nigeria. Within less than two years as Director General, NIMASA under Dakuku remitted a whopping N22.9B to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and in the following year, the agency released over N16B to the FG account. In the same 2018, over N2B was released to the Nigerian Maritime university in Okerenkoko, Delta State. A feat many observers have commended.
Remarkably, the agency achieved tremendous success towards improving ease of doing business by reducing the number of agencies in the port, which impacted positively in the smooth operation of port activities. The formulation and review of existing maritime laws and policies to meet up contemporary demands of the maritime industry put NIMASA in an enviable position of maritime administration in the African continent.
Dakuku’s leadership was sought near and far, infact, he was a rallying point in the Association of African Maritime Administrators, being elected to lead his contemporaries as Chairman, thereby placing Nigeria in a central position to rally other maritime administrators in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization, towards safer global maritime activities. Dakuku excelled in the fight against sea piracy with the cooperation of other security agencies.
Staff satisfaction was high as enumerations and other benefits were paid duly and efficiently. Dakuku was committed to rewarding hard work in the agency, thus promoting over six hundred management and non-management staff in the agency to the delight of all.
As Director General, TELL Magazine awarded NIMASA as the Prestigious Public Organization of the year 2016, just months after Dakuku brought energy, excellence and management competence to the agency. In the past, NIMASA, with Dakuku at the helm of affairs received several commendations with the most recent coming from the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who praised Dakuku for his numerous contributions and brilliant innovative ideas that have lifted the maritime sector to new heights.
In summary, Dakuku brought measurable productivity and efficiency to the maritime industry, which contributed immensely to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy.
Clearly, the agency will miss his leadership, and frankly, most staff and other stakeholders in the maritime industry will penitently miss him and all that comes with him as well.
He bows out as an achiever, a hero and an accomplished management expert whose multi-leadership and management skills would be sought after at higher plinths.
Congratulations Dakuku Peterside, PhD
Sobere Opusunju
Port Harcourt,
Nigeria.
05/3/2020