By David Oladimeji
The 10th Anniversary of the Annual Maritime Students and Youth Conference held last week in Lagos produced yet another memorable highlight as Deji Agbetomiloye was honoured as the Overall Best Graduating Maritime Student in Nigeria for 2024/2025 Academic session, earning widespread applause from industry leaders, academics and fellow students.
Deji, a 24 year old native of Ido Osi LGA in Ekiti state, South-West Nigeria who studied Marine Engineering at the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology in Victoria Island, Lagos and finished top of his class with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.96 which is Distinction, thus beating students from other maritime institutions to clinch the covetted honour.
The prestigious recognition was announced during the landmark AMSAY conference held at the Mission to Seafarers Conference Hall, Apapa, where maritime stakeholders gathered to celebrate a decade of youth empowerment, mentorship and professional development in the maritime sector.
Agbetomiloye’s emergence as the nation’s Overall best graduating maritime student in Nigeria at HND level reflects years of academic excellence, hard work and unwavering commitment to personal and professional development in a highly competitive educational environment.
The award attracted significant attention at the conference, with participants describing the young scholar’s achievement as a testament to the immense potential that exists among Nigerian maritime students when given access to quality education and mentorship.
Industry leaders present at the event noted that the recognition aligns perfectly with AMSAY’s core mission of identifying, nurturing and celebrating young talents who are poised to become future leaders of the maritime industry.
For Deji Agbetomiloye who bagged two awards at the occasion, first as Best Graduating Marine Engineering Student, and second as the Overall Best Graduating Student in Nigeria, the awards represent the culmination of years of dedication, sacrifice and determination to excel in a sector that remains critical to Nigeria’s economic growth, international trade and blue economy aspirations.
As a motivation for his academic excellence, Deji won a total cash prize of Four Hundred Thousand Naira (N400,00) for the two awards sponsored by Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) and Capt Sunday Umoren respectively. Even as he has been pitched with AMES, a body of Marine engineers for mentorship and career guidance to ensure his successful career development in the industry.
Observers at the event described Deji’s achievement as a source of inspiration for thousands of maritime students across the country who aspire to build successful careers in shipping, logistics, marine engineering, nautical science, port management and maritime administration.
The honour also underscored the importance of academic excellence in preparing the next generation of professionals required to drive innovation and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s maritime industry.
Meanwhile, other best graduating student winners in other fields of maritime studies include: Olaniyi Deborah, best graduating student in Shipping Management; Usen Emaediong Akpan, Best graduating student in Maritime Transport and Business Studies, and Ogundeji Victoria, best graduating student in Maritime Law.
Others are: Olagunji Oyindamola Miracle, Best Graduating Student in Nautical Science; Osikweme Shalom, Best graduating student in Maritime Security and Safety Management; Zakariyau Kafayat Motunrayo, Best Graduating Student in Fisheries Technology and Usen Emaediong Akpan, who also won Best Graduating Female Maritime Student.
Each of the best graduating student won an Award plaque and a Certificate of Academic Excellence together with the sum of N200,000 as award Cash Prize, even as those that clinched two awards got a total of N400,000 in cash prizes.
The AMSAY conference, which has become one of the country’s foremost maritime youth development platforms, provided the perfect stage to celebrate the outstanding achievement, given its long-standing commitment to mentorship, capacity building and youth advocacy.
Speakers at the event urged other students to emulate the discipline, resilience and commitment that distinguished Deji Agbetomiloye and other best graduating students throughout their academic journey, stressing that excellence remains the surest pathway to professional success.
The recognition further reinforced AMSAY Conference vision of creating opportunities for young people to pursue their ambitions while connecting them with industry leaders who can guide their career development.
As congratulations poured in from maritime professionals, lecturers, students and stakeholders, Agbetomiloye expressed gratitude for the honour and pledged to continue striving for excellence in his future endeavours within the maritime sector.
With his emergence as Nigeria’s Overall Best Graduating Maritime Student for 2025 set, Deji Agbetomiloye Ayobami has not only etched his name into the record books but has also become a shining symbol of academic excellence, determination and the bright future that awaits Nigeria’s next generation of maritime professionals.
Congratulations bro, fcfmt won this glamorous award again