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The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Usman Bamanga Jada, will chair the 2026 Annual Conference of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), where stakeholders will explore the role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in advancing Nigeria’s blue economy.
The conference, scheduled for Thursday, July 30, 2026, will focus on the theme, “Special Economic Zones as Catalysts to Sustainable Blue Economy.”
The event is expected to bring together government officials, regulators, investors, maritime operators and industry experts to discuss how SEZs can promote industrialisation, attract investments, boost trade, create jobs and unlock opportunities within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Jada’s appointment as chairman of the conference highlights the growing importance of OGFZA’s role in promoting investment and industrial development through free zones, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
OGFZA, as the regulator and promoter of Nigeria’s oil and gas free zones, has continued to support investment inflows, technology transfer, local content development and employment creation through strategic reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business. The Authority’s initiatives have also positioned Nigeria’s free zones as platforms for export-oriented industrialisation and economic diversification, while strengthening the country’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
Chairman of the MARCON Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said OGFZA’s achievements made Jada’s selection appropriate, given the organisation’s alignment with the conference theme.
He described the Authority as one of Nigeria’s most impactful investment promotion agencies, noting that its success demonstrates the potential of Special Economic Zones to drive economic transformation.
“We are honoured that the Managing Director of OGFZA is chairing this year’s conference. His wealth of experience in investment promotion and free zone administration will add significant value to the conversations. We are confident that participants will benefit immensely from his insights as stakeholders collectively explore practical strategies for leveraging Special Economic Zones to advance Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations,” Ogbuokiri said.
The MARCON Conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine policy measures and investment opportunities that can maximise the contribution of Special Economic Zones to Nigeria’s maritime economy.
Discussions will focus on trade facilitation, infrastructure development, sustainable maritime growth and strategies for harnessing the country’s blue economy potential.
