Rivers Port Manager Okezie wins MARCON award for operational excellence
Maureen Aguta
The Port Manager, Rivers Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs Kenechi Okezie, has been honoured with the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Port Management and Operational Excellence Award for her leadership and contribution to efficient port operations.
The award recognises Okezie’s efforts in improving operational efficiency, strengthening stakeholder engagement and enhancing service delivery at Rivers Port Complex and across the Eastern maritime corridor.
She received the award at the 2026 MARCON National Conference on Sustainable Fishing held on Wednesday, September 30, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Okezie, who has over 24 years of experience with the NPA, joined the Authority in 2001 and has served in various capacities at the Tin Can Island Port, Lagos Port Complex and the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Marina, Lagos.
She was appointed Port Manager of Rivers Port Complex in December 2023, becoming the youngest Port Manager in the history of the NPA at the time and the only female Port Manager under the appointing administration. She was reappointed to the position in August 2024.
Throughout her career, Okezie has served on several NPA committees and contributed to industry initiatives aimed at improving port administration and operational standards.
She served as Secretary of the Voyage Meeting Reconciliation Committee for five consecutive years and was also involved in the NPA Handbook Committee, Towage Operations Standard Operating Procedure Committee and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Steering Committee.
Okezie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Port Harcourt and an MBA from the University of Lagos. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Port Harcourt.
She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Diplomacy (ICAD) and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), among other professional affiliations.
Beyond her administrative responsibilities, the award committee noted her commitment to stakeholder engagement and coordination of port operations, particularly her role in facilitating maritime trade and improving service delivery at Rivers Port Complex.
Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said Okezie’s recognition was based on her professional contribution to port management and efforts to promote higher operational standards in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
According to him, the award was designed to recognise maritime professionals whose contributions are helping to improve the efficiency, competitiveness and development of the nation’s port system.
The conference, themed “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” attracted policymakers, regulators, maritime operators, researchers and other stakeholders who examined strategies for developing Nigeria’s fisheries industry and unlocking the wider potential of the blue economy.