President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new Governing Board for Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The appointments, effective from June 24, is pursuant to Section 5 of NIMASA Act, which noted that the board should determine the policy of the agency with regard to the financial, commercial and operational programme.
Among those appointed is Iroghama Ogbeifun, managing Director/chief executive of Starzs Investments Company, and chairman of Technical Committee of Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN). Industry experts see Iroghama’s appointment as a testament to the vision of this administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions, recognising and enlisting individuals of merit and excellence in critical national assignments.
The appointment is no surprise to those who have closely witnessed her passion for innovation, commitment to excellence, and drive for growth and transformation. Her passion for pioneering ideas, fostering sustainable growth, and upholding highest standards has been a hallmark of her leadership in Starzs. Through her strategic foresight and dedication, she has contributed to advancement of the maritime industry and the blue economy framework.
Ogbeifun has a Bachelor’s in Biology and Psychology from University of Massachusetts, Boston, and a Master’s in Public Health and Health Promotion from Brunel University, London. She is an alumna of Harvard Business School through its Owner/President Management programme. She holds professional certifications in Commercial Risk in Shipping from Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, among others. With over 11 years in maritime, she draws on her expertise and skills to lead on strategy while overseeing business development, finance, research and policy.
For her, revenue performance is a crucial part of a leader’s scorecard and she has solid achievements in this regard. Among other several accomplishments, she helped Starzs qualify for $15 million in Mezzanine Debt for the expansion of company business in 2015. Under her management, the company has also grown its assets base from 3 ships in 2014 to 11 ships as at February 2021, an important milestone that reinforces the company’s stature as a key player in Nigeria’s maritime logistics industry.
Other members are representatives of Ministries of Marine and Blue Economy, Labour, Nigeria Navy, the Director General of NIMASA and other persons with cognate experience in maritime, shipping and labour matters. The new Board was inaugurated today Wednesday 2nd July, 2025.
