The President of the African Bar Association (AfBA), High Chief Ibrahim Eddy-Mark, on Friday led a high-powered delegation on a courtesy visit to the Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja.
The visit, held on July 3, 2026, aimed to strengthen collaboration between the African Bar Association and the Nigerian Navy ahead of the Association’s annual conference.
Members of the delegation included Afam Okeke, Mr. Steve Emelieze, Teyojesam Eko and Lillian Okenwa.
The Chief of the Naval Staff who was unavoidably absent due to official engagements was represented by Rear Admiral J. N. Mamman, who received the delegation alongside a team of senior naval officers, including R. Adm. A. J. Siyanbade, R. Adm. R. Taofeek, Capt G. I. O. Ukpong, Capt H. B. Yusuf, Cdr M. M. Mayami and Lt Cdr D. C. Nwaorji.
Speaking during the meeting, High Chief Eddy-Mark gave a brief history of the African Bar Association. He explained that the Association was established in 1971 by African lawyers committed to promoting peace, stability and the rule of law across the continent. He said AfBA has continued to provide leadership on governance issues by engaging African leaders on democratic values, constitutionalism and peaceful conflict resolution.
He explained that the courtesy visit provided an opportunity to personally brief the Naval leadership on the significance of the Association’s annual conference which would hold in Cape Verde from September 20 to 24, 2026. He disclosed that the conference would focus on the theme, “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development: Strengthening And Addressing Issues of Military, Security and Economic Stability.”
He appealed for the participation of senior naval officers at the conference as delegates and resource persons. According to him, participants from across Africa would benefit from Nigeria’s experience in maritime security as discussions on Nigeria’s experience with pipeline vandalism, piracy, maritime crime and coastal security would enrich the conference. He expressed confidence that the Nigerian Navy’s contributions would strengthen discussions on security and sustainable development across the continent.
Eddy-Mark noted that Nigeria’s success in securing its maritime domain has become a reference point for many African countries and commended the Nigerian Navy for its contributions to national security and the protection of Nigeria’s maritime environment.
Responding on behalf of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral J. N. Mamman welcomed the AfBA delegation to the Naval Headquarters.
He appreciated the Association for recognising the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain while highlighting several successes recorded by the Nigerian Navy towards the improvement of maritime security within and beyond the country.
He identified Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and crude oil theft as persistent challenges confronting the maritime industry and requiring sustained regional and international cooperation.
The senior naval officer urged the African Bar Association to continue projecting the achievements of the Nigerian Navy across the African continent, stating that greater awareness would strengthen collaboration among African institutions in addressing shared security challenges.
Mamman assured the AfBA delegation that the Nigerian Navy would give favourable consideration to the Association’s request, expressing optimism that a number of naval officers would participate in the Cape Verde conference, subject to operational commitments.
He thanked the African Bar Association for the visit and reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to working with organisations promoting peace, security and the rule of law across Africa.
The visit concluded with the presentation of a commemorative souvenir by the Nigerian Navy to the AfBA President. Thereafter, members of the African Bar Association and the Nigerian Navy posed for a group photograph to commemorate the successful engagement before the delegation departed the Naval Headquarters.
