Dr. Dakuku Peterside, a management turnaround expert, public policy authority, and one of the continent’s foremost maritime thought leaders, has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference.
The event is scheduled to hold on June 25 and 26, 2026, at the Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The significance of this announcement is substantial. For a leader who, over the past year alone, has addressed high-level maritime conferences in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kenya, and China, this marks his first keynote appearance at a maritime event on Nigerian soil in five years.
Dr. Peterside, the former President of the Association of African Maritime Administrations, is widely credited with driving unprecedented reforms at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) during his tenure as Director-General and CEO.
He will speak on the theme “From Policy to Implementation”, a subject on which he carries significant earned authority.
As a columnist for major Nigerian newspapers and a respected speaker at banking, oil, and gas forums, he brings cross-sector gravitas to the maritime platform.
The conference is organised by WISTA Nigeria, the first national WISTA association on the African continent, which was founded in 1994 and is now marking 32 years of leadership.
The regional conference promises an extraordinary gathering of delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Under the leadership of its President, Dr. Odunayo Ani, WISTA Nigeria has designed this edition to be a landmark event covering vital themes, including the Blue Economy, Energy Transition, Digital Transformation, and Diversity and Inclusion.