African appointment to international committee
IC-ENC Steering committee appointments
Nigeria’s Read Admiral Ayo has been appointed as a Vice Chair of the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC) during a meeting held in Turkey earlier this month.
The CEO of the Nigerian National Hydrographic Agency (NHA) joins an expanded team of Vice Chairs alongside Leendert Dorst, Pia Højgaard, Burak İnan and Julia Powell to support the new Chair, Michael Andrew.
Rear Admiral Olugbode is the first African to be appointed as a Vice-Chair of the IC-ENC, marking the occasion as a pivotal milestone for Nigeria and the broader African continent in navigational safety, maritime governance and economic development.
This role further enhances Nigeria's influence and contribution in the global hydrographic community, following the recent announcement of the IC-ENC West Africa Regional Office and Training Centre in Abuja.
It also bolsters maritime safety by accelerating the production and validation of electronic charts covering key ports, reducing accident risks and supporting the Blue Economy through improved port efficiency and coastal infrastructure.
The appointment, which is seen as step to strengthen Africa’s voice in the international maritime community, will foster collaboration among the African members, which include Tunisia, South Africa, Mozambique, Egypt and Nigeria, to drive the mapping of under-charted waters for improved navigational safety, environmental protection, and economic integration.
The election took place at the annual Steering Committee meeting (SC26) where 59 in-person delegates and 21 virtual participants, representing a total of 44 Member countries voted in the new committee.
The IC-ENC is a regional ENC coordination centre (RENC) with 53 member countries, including five African countries, that supports the production and distribution of high quality Electronic Navigational Charts to mariners.
The organisation ensures validation and harmonisation of maritime data products from members to ensure compliance with international standards and adherence to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). This serves to ensure navigational safety worldwide through consistent chart coverage to navigators and other maritime users.
PHOTO: (Left to right) Julia Powell, Pia Højgaard, Burak Inan, Michael Andrew, Ayo Olugbode, Leendert Dorst.
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