Ilupeju Icon: Captain Joshua Oyewumi [1941-2018]

Captain Joshua Adebayo Oyewumi was born to late Pa Samuel Adeyemi Oyewumi and late Madam Deborah Odedoyin Oyewumi (Iya Ijo of St. Matthias’ Anglican Church, Erin-Osun) of Ile Bale Oke-Afolu quarters, Erin-Osun in Irepodun Local Government of Osun state.

He started his primary education at Erin-Osun and moved to Gusau, Zamfara state where he passed gallantly from Primary 5 to St. Paul’s College (now Kufena College) Wusa, Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna state for his secondary school education.

He proceeded to School of Agriculture from where providence guided him to a newspaper advertisement for Sea Career Training. He seized the opportunity; started training as Marine Cadet Officer in 1960 with Inland Waterways Department and went to Quarra base, Apapa in the Nigerian Navy for his basic training. He proved his worth in his training by having the best overall performance result in all subjects at the end of the course. In recognition of his exemplary performance, the then head of the Nigerian Navy, Commodore Kennedy, presented him a book prize titled “Nigerian Perspective: An Historical Anthology.”

He began his real sea life early career with the Elder Dempster Shipping Line Limited of Liverpool, United Kingdom (now defunct), as Navigating Cadet Officer on board their vessels and subsequently rose through the ranks.

He went through rigorous training and college examinations and attended a number of colleges in the United Kingdom such as Riversdale Technical College, Liverpool and the Liverpool College of Technology (now Sir John Moore University) on Bryom Street, Liverpool, to mention but a few. His training took him from Cadetship to 3rd Officer, 2nd Mate, Chief Mate and finally Master’s ticket to become the captain of a ship, after about eight years training. In all these, he was able to acquire knowledge in the following competencies, 2nd Mate Certificate of Competency fgn UK 1964-65, 1st Mate Certificate of Competencies Fgn in UK 1966 as well as Master Certificate of Competency Fgn UK in January 1970, etc.

Working at sea for a further eight years he served as Chief Officer and Master of foreign going vessels with many foreign companies like Pakistan International Shipping Line, Ocean Tramping of Hong Kong, and many others where he distinguished himself.

He came ashore to take up an appointment with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as a Pilot in 1974 and rose through the ranks. He achieved a great feat by becoming the FIRST INDIGENOUS CHIEF PILOT with Master Foreign Going UK Certificate for both Apapa and Tincan Ports in 1978. He was also in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State as the Chief Port Harbour Master from 1981 to 1986.

He also worked with the National Fertilizer Company of Nigerian (NAFCON) at Onne as a consultant. He was invited to join the Aeromaritime Nigeria Limited as the Director of Habours and later became the Director of Technical Services with Brawal Shipping Line, culminating in the purchase and crewing of the famous MV Ndoni River and crewing of the vessel.

He served as a consultant to Dicon Salt Company. He also served as Managing Director of Adebayo International Marine Consultancy Ltd (AIMCL), which is a company vast in port operations and Administration. He managed the Dantata Jetty, Tincan Port.

Captain Oyewumi has a number of awards credited to his name both in his professional career and for his contributions to society. These include best shipping operator for the year 2005 by Maritime Journal, the Award of Excellence presented by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Nigeria also in the year 2005. He is an associate member of the Nigerian Association of Masters Mariners (NAMM).

In August 1998, he was invited to join Dangote Group by the Group President Aliko Dangote as the General Manager, Ports Operations where he worked actively for 20 years, including participation in the obtaining of concessional approval for the Dangote Group as a Terminal Operator. He rose through the ranks of Group General Manager, Acting MD and finally as MD Ports Operations in June 2007, the position he occupied until his death in 2018.

Outside his profession as a distinguished Master Mariner, Administrator and Corporate Executive, he has also held some Government appointments. He served as the Chairman of Irepodun Town Planning Authority during the period of General Muritala/General Obasanjo regime. In his humble way, he served all through this period without collecting any money.

He had a great love for his immediate community and home town that he donated his only house in Erin-Osun for the use of the Community. He served as the President of the renowned Club 20 of Erin Osun between 1998 and 2004. He was the Chairman of the 3rd Erin Osun Moje celebration in 1995 and participated financially and morally in various projects embarked upon by the community.

Despite the demanding nature of the job, he had time for God’s work and loved HIM very much. He was knighted in 2002 as a fellow of Osun Anglican Diocese in recognition of his contributions to the Diocese.

Captain Oyewumi was a devoted family man who believed strongly in honesty, integrity and hard work.

He passed on to glory on Thursday, November 22, 2018 and he is survived by his wife Mrs Tinuola Oyewumi; children and grandchildren.