By Ovie Edomi

To the wider society, his infectious smiles,charisma, comments and assessments of issues would always set people thinking. Chief Anthony Onoharigho, a ship captain, maritime expert, academics with a doctorate degree in Transport Geography is the first Nigerian to own a classification company. In the Marine and allied industries,this is regarded as unprecedented especially as he caps his numerous achievements with several other laurels among which are Africa regional Director of Conarina Group, a globally recognised ship classification conglomerate.

Onoharigho, who is equally Deputy Registrar with Liberia Maritime Authority, Chief Executive of Conarina Maritime Academy, Abraka, Delta state, an institution famous for training seafarers has a reputation of greater responsibility to his country and his fellow country men.

Apart from blazing many frontiers as the former National President of Nigeria Institute of Shipping as well as when he was former Vice President (East), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Nigeria, his present position as Africa regional director of Conarina group based in Miami, United States has been used for the good of the country.

No doubt, Onoharigho, the immediate past First Deputy President-General of UPU worldwide, the Apex Social Cultural Group for the whole of Urhobo land: the fifth ethnic tribe in Nigeria is a pride to Nigeria and Africa.

It was therefore not surprising that many important Personalities gathered when the chartered institute of logistics and Transport CILT honoured Capt Dr Anthony Onoharigho recently. Though he was the cynosure of all, but those who have worked closely with the man popularity call captain, say he has received many honours in time past devoid of fanfare. This is so because he does not make noise about his works and achievements. As a result,he quietly continues to carry out his task and all responsibilities of leadership given to him with deligence and commitments having his eyes on results.

For instance, after serving as a ship captain on board foreign vessels where he sojourned round the globe for decades, he went back to school to acquire a master degree and thereafter a doctorate in order to arm himself with both practical and theoritcal knowledge for the task ahead in a world full of new technologies.

As is to be expected, his establishment of one of Nigeria’s indigenous training academy for seafarers popularity call Conarina Maritime Academy has created training programme opportunities for many young adults who desire to make a career in the international sea trade. To say that in the last few years Conarina Maritime Academy has been a breeding ground for young seafarers is stating the obvious. The institution continues to shun out young cadets in neutical science, marine engineering, computer hard and software engineering, welding and fabrication, shipping management and so on. This is in addition to other short courses like basic safety training, efficient Deck hand, EDH, preparatory, international safety management and so on.

By helping to provide adequate seafarer training for young adults and creating an opportunity to them to explore their talents, Dr Onoharigho has written his name in gold not only in Nigeria but in Sub-Sahara Africa and in many maritime nations across the globe.

For a man who had helped to shape the skills of thousands of youths and lifted their morals, through his Academy and other interventions programmes, Dr Onoharigho’s accomplishments have no doubt, made more foreigners to have greater confidence in the maritime potentials of Nigeria, both natural and in human capacities.

•Edomi, PhD, is a Lagos based Journalist and former Publicity Secretary of Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria.