‘Great loss to maritime sector’ — Dakuku Peterside mourns Onyema-Orakwusi

Dakuku Peterside, former director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has mourned the death of Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi, a maritime lawyer and shipping magnate. 

According to the family, Onyema-Orakwusi died after a brief illness on April 28.

In a statement on Sunday, Peterside said Onyema-Orakwusi’s demise will create a big vacuum in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

Peterside described the deceased as an authority in maritime law and the fishing sub-sector.

“She was a notable and accomplished shipping magnate and maritime lawyer. This is a great loss to the maritime community especially the fishing sub sector,” Peterside said.

“Her demise will be felt by her associates and the maritime community. She contributed immensely to the growth and development of the maritime industry.

“She was an inspiration to a lot of women who saw her as a star in a male-dominated maritime sector. She puts her heart and determination into every endeavour she embarked upon.”

According to Peterside, she spoke with passion, deep knowledge and unwavering commitment to the sector.

“When I served as DG/CEO of NIMASA, she played key advisory role in the reform of maritime regulations. She showed deep understanding on the interface between business at a practical level and maritime regulation and I appreciate her for all her advise,” Peterside said.

“I could always count on her for dispassionate opinions on issues that required attention and direction; she showed enormous grasp of issues within the sector.”