ABTL Honours Comrade Adeyanju For Industrial Peace In Port Operations

By Roland Ekama

Barely a month after stepping down as President-General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju was honoured by the management of Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL) for his outstanding contributions to sustaining industrial peace in port operations.

The port concessionaire expressed satisfaction with Adeyanju’s significant contributions, including improvements in conditions of service for dockworkers, fostering industry harmony, and enhancing welfare packages for members-key reasons behind the honour bestowed on Comrade Adeyanju.

Adeyanju, the immediate past President-General of MWUN, was celebrated on Friday in Lagos by terminal operators alongside senior officials of dockworkers and stevedoring contractors amidst pomp and pageantry.

Managing Director of ABTL, Engineer Festus Omotoyinbo, described Adeyanju as a transformative figure in port operations and stated that the organisation could not stop expressing appreciation despite his exit from office as union leader.

Omotoyinbo noted that the legacy of the Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress will continue to promote industrial peace in the maritime sector. He added that ABTL does not want to take Adeyanju for granted, given his major role in keeping the seaports operational.

He explained that the brief ceremony was aimed at introducing Adeyanju to management and, importantly, to acknowledge that his contributions to port operations speak volumes.

The Managing Director further appreciated dockworkers for the robust working relationship with ABTL management under Adeyanju’s administration, stressing that his leadership wisdom deserves commendation.

Company Secretary of Flour Mills Nigeria Limited (FMNL), Joseph Umolu, said the lives of average dockworkers have improved under Adeyanju’s administration.

While thanking Adeyanju for his sterling performance in office, Umolu urged members to look inward and strive towards achieving even greater heights.

 

A cross-section of dockworkers and ABTL management staff described the former President-General as a thoroughbred unionist whose legacy will continue to resonate in the maritime industry.

Managing Director of Micura Services Limited, Chief Orobosa Michael Ubogu, praised Adeyanju as a humble man endowed with wisdom.

Ubogu stated that both young and old stakeholders will continue to celebrate Adeyanju for his effective management of workers over the past eight years. He further described him as a humble man willing to sacrifice for others’ growth.

He commended Adeyanju’s open-door policy, which deserves emulation by other unionists, adding that the celebration of Adeyanju is well deserved.

Deputy President-General of MWUN, Comrade Abubakar Bello, assured the NLC boss that MWUN will continue to support him in all capacities.

 

Responding, Adeyanju , who is the Chairman, BOT MWUN thanked the company’s management for the recognition and called on the current MWUN leadership to work closely with the terminal operator.

He urged other port concessionaires to emulate ABTL in recognising workers, adding that celebrating workers who add value to any organisation’s success should be taken seriously.

Others who spoke at the occasion also eulogized Comrade Adewale Adeyanju for his successful leadership.