Amid fanfare, Rear Admiral Bolaji Orederu on Monday passed on the baton of leadership as Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited (ASNDL) to Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu with an admonition to cater to his men and equipment in order to achieve maximum result.
Orederu handed over headship of the dockyard to Ibrahim following his posting to the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla.
The senior officer who spent 21 months at the Naval Dockyard Limited in Victoria Island was celebrated by officers, ratings, civilian staff and the maritime community at a reception held over the weekend for many landmark innovations and achievements recorded by the company under his watch.
Key among them was the revitalisation of two important ship-building workshops- galvanising and electroplating-
that were moribund for over 20 years; the in-country construction of vessels, as well as the complete overhaul, periodic maintenance of warships and merchant vessels including six naval platforms belonging to the Benin Republic Navy.
Handing over to his successor, Admiral Orederu who received a valedictory salute as ASNDL at the quarter guard where the traditional lowering and mounting of flags were performed to signify a change of baton, thanks the CNS for his strategic leadership and guidance throughout his tour of duty.
Orederu said: “I thank God for His grace, for good health, strength, and for helping us to have a very successful tour of duty for the past 21 months at the Naval Dockyard.
“Deep gratitude goes to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, for his support throughout my tenure. He was there to encourage and motivate us, and we are so grateful for the opportunity he gave us to be able to achieve all that we achieved.”
Highlighting key achievements during his tenure, including the construction of Seaward Defence Boats (SDB) IV and V constructed simultaneously, Orederu said the landmark projects were near completion stages, expressing optimism that his successor would give the finishing touches to them.
“We have taken these ships to the stage of hull formation, and my successor will take it from there and complete the project,” he said.
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Orederu also noted the establishment of the Naval Dockyard Gallery, a museum that preserves artefacts, past projects, and records of the dockyard’s history.
“For the first time in the history of the Naval Dockyard Gallery, we have been able to create a kind of museum where we house artefacts, past projects, ongoing projects, and everything the yard has done including records of those who have served here meritoriously.
“Now, anybody who comes into the yard, in just five to ten minutes, will be able to see the capacity, capability, and competencies of Naval Dockyard Limited,” he explained.
Orederu also initiated the Vice Admiral Oghalla Multipurpose Complex, a facility that will house the senior rates’ mess, a restaurant, a supermarket, a salon, and apartments, which he expressed confidence that his successor would complete.
On business operations, he noted that the dockyard successfully docked multiple ships, including a 130-metre vessel, marking a historic achievement.
According to Orederu, the dockyard’s reputation had grown significantly within the African continent.
“Now, the dockyard has a good name, a good reputation, and we have our pride of place among docking and ship repair facilities—not just in Nigeria or West Africa, but in the entire African continent,” he said.
Advising his successor, Orederu said: “You have the man and you have the machine. When you look after the man behind the machine, the machine will always work.
“So we have been having that conversation, and I know that the incoming Admiral Superintendent is a good, competent, seasoned marine engineer and naval architect.
“My advice is for him to look after the officers, motivate and encourage them, and everything will go accordingly, and you will get the results that you need.”
In his remarks, the new ASNDL also thanked the CNS for finding him worthy of leading the company, pledging to sustain the successful strides, deepen collaborations with maritime business communities and to ensure the Dockyard remained a key player in shipbuilding, maintenance and repair across Africa.
He said: “I thank the CNS for the repose of confidence in appointing me as the new Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited. I also thank my immediate predecessor for the wonderful foundation he has laid, and I assure you that I will build further on his legacy.”
While acknowledging the challenges ahead, he expressed confidence in his ability to lead the dockyard, adding that “If there are no challenges, there won’t be leadership, and the essence of leadership is to find ways to surmount the challenges.
“I assure you and the CNS that we will bring everything to bear to surmount whatever challenges come before us in the course of trying to drive the dockyard towards the vision of the CNS,” said Rear Admiral Shehu.