Momentum is building for the 10th edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference (TAAM) as the Maritime Forum, University of Lagos, in partnership with SIFAX Group, prepare to host what has become West Africa's largest student-led maritime conference, bringing together more than 2,000 participants from government, academia, the maritime industry, corporate organisations and the media. Over the last decade, SIFAX Group has remained the conference's strongest supporter, helping to transform TAAM into a leading platform for youth engagement, industry collaboration and maritime capacity development. Scheduled for July 20–21, 2026, the landmark conference will commemorate a decade of advancing maritime education, policy discourse and youth leadership under the theme, "Ten Tides of Impact: Raising a Generation to Position Nigeria as Africa's Blue Giant." The conference will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and policy conversations led by leading figures from government, academia and the maritime industry, including Dr. Emeka Akabogu; Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; University of Lagos Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi; President of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (Nigeria), Dr. Odunayo Ani; and representatives of the Danish Consulate and other leading maritime organisations. More than a commemorative event, Dare Tunde Damilola, president of Maritime Forum, describes the anniversary edition as a legacy platform designed to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia and to develop the next generation of maritime professionals and policy leaders. He added that the conference aims to promote meaningful conversations on the future of Nigeria's maritime industry, bridge the gap between students and practitioners, encourage innovation and leadership among young people, deepen stakeholder engagement across the maritime ecosystem, and create opportunities for networking, mentorship and career development. Olumuyiwa Akande, Group Head, Corporate Communications, SIFAX Group, noted that the company has continued to support the initiative because it serves as a strategic platform to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical industry knowledge while also cultivating the university students’ interest in the country’s maritime industry. A major highlight of this year's programme is the anniversary edition of the Blueprint Debate Competition, one of TAAM's longest-running intellectual initiatives. Since the conference was launched in 2016, the competition has evolved into a nationally recognised platform where university students engage in structured debates on maritime, economic, governance and public policy issues.
