EKITI-BORN NAVAL OFFICER, CAPTAIN KUNLE LAYIWOLA EMERGES FIRST BLACK AFRICAN TO BECOME CHARTERED MASTER MARINER
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Friends, family, colleagues, associates as well as kinsmen are celebrating an Ekiti-born Naval Chief, Captain Kunle Layiwola over his emergence as the first Black African to become Chartered Master Mariner globally.
According to a statement signed by the Converner of Odo-Aremu Renewal Group in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Dada Adetola, the Ilawe-Ekiti born naval officer has again demonstrated what an Ekiti man is known for.
Mr. Adetola emphasized that Captain Layiwola has always shown a great degree of patriotism as a young officer while his passion for human and societal development is a reference point.
“I want to say that as a child, I saw first what the picture of a ship as well as the interior looks like in Captain Layiwola’s room at our kindred Odo-Aremu and since then, I had known he would become a shinning star, not only in Nigeria and Africa but the world at large”, Adetola stressed.
He stated that “what Captain Layiwola has achieved is not just by coincidence but a product of committed research and projection to ensure that Africans can also excel and even set the pace in all sectors”.
Similarly, a childhood friend of the Master Mariner who is also the Director, ICT at the Accountant-General’s Office, Dr. Afolabi Ajayi expressed the hope that Layiwola’s elevation in his chosen career would spur him to do more for the society and Nigerian as well as the global community.
Ajayi stated that Layiwola’s passion for hard work, diligence, commitment as well as desire to break new ground should be emulated by upcoming generations, adding that “the future is here”.
In a comment by the Naval Officer, Captain Kunle Layiwola “it has been a very tough process of great research for close to one year as it ended up with tough 2hrs 40 minutes interview conducted by four Super Captains, Chartered Master Mariners from Honourable Company Of Master Mariner Verification Committee United Kingdom”.
Layiwola said “out of the four examiners, two were Managing Directors of great international oil companies, another a retired Royal Navy Commodore and the other an ex-Chevron Nigeria foreign expert”.
“For almost five months until September ending, I was busy studying because I never knew where question will come out. I am so proud to be granted this highest award and it represents the pinnacle of professional achievement”.
“We are 58 Chartered Master Mariners in the whole wide world. Chartered Master Mariners are honourable, outstanding worth of note group of professionals, eminent, highly disciplined, straight forward as they control ownership of ships while they also assume responsibility for personal development, goals, ambitions and life objectives”, Captain Layiwola stated.
According to him, the honourable company of Master Mariners is the backbone of world maritime development and strong technical partner of International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization, Navigation and ship technology,etc. This award belong to the British, Singapore, American and Australia before but now extended to the Commonwealth Nations.
Layiwola who’s who is also the first West African to become a member of the Nautical Institute appreciated God the award and elevation from united Kingdom.
With this development, Naijaparrots gathered that Nigerian-born Naval Officer could be described as “the conqueror of sea waves, Command Ship Captain, Class 1 certificate of competency, Fellow of the Nautical Institute ,Maritime Law Expert, Member Of Nigerian Association of Master Mariners and one of the world super Master Mariners.
The presentation of the Certificate Award at the next Honourable Company Of Chartered Master Mariners’ Annual General Meeting would be graced by King Charles lll.
Captain Layiwola added that the development would challenge him to “engage more in strong research at work place in the maritime industry, meteorology, navigation, ship building, self development and mentoring of young seafarers and subordinates”.
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