Adalikwu's re-election, which followed the end of the 19th General Assembly of the organization held in Banjul, Gambia.
His emergence was supported by the endorsement of the leadership of the delegations of member countries, who congratulated Adalikwu for his revolutionary transformations in the 50-year-old body.
He was voted to unanimously at the MOWCA General Assembly of Ministers on February 19, 2026.
The President and Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure of the MOWCA of the Republic of The Gambia, Mr. Ebrima Sillah, who spoke after Adalikwu's victory, congratulated the SG on his renewed mandate, stating that his re-election was truly deserved and meritorious.
According to he, Adalikwu has enhanced the importance of West and Central African countries in the global maritime ecosystem through strategic engagements with stakeholders within and outside Africa.
He further described MOWCA under Adalikwu’s leadership as a rising multilateral organization, raising awareness on maximizing the underutilized and untapped potential of the region’s vast maritime coastline.
Mr. Sillah added that under Adalikwu's leadership, MOWCA has made significant progress in regional maritime integration, security, capacity building and sustainable development in all its member states.
Ghana Minister of Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, praised Adalikwu as a leader of exceptional qualities whose achievements in the five-decade-old organization are evident.
Hon. Nikpe said maritime trade is at the heart of import and export activities and should be treated with the seriousness that Adalikwu brought to the operations of MOWCA.
He further noted that awareness and participation of member countries in MOWCA and other international maritime activities has grown since Adalikwu first assumed the role of SG four years ago.
He added that Ghana is now more committed to adding value to its exports by supplying fifty percent of raw materials, like cocoa beans, to the Ghanaian business community for processing into chocolate, unlike in the past when they were exported raw.
Dr. Adalikwu reassured all member countries of MOWCA that he would pursue a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable shipping program while promoting an African blue economy to achieve greater economic development and diversification.
He promised greater inclusion and massive participation of all coastal and land-based African countries in maritime matters. According to him, MOWCA will continue to provide technical support to countries with potential for maritime port activities and assist in the establishment of dry ports across the continent for land-based countries.
The SG also pledged to support efforts to transform MOWCA into the African Maritime Organization (AMO), unifying Africa's voice on maritime issues globally.
This, he said declared, would create a common front and a stronger African presence in global maritime affairs.
Over the past four years, the interface of MOWCA with member countries has resulted in significant improvements in maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
Adalikwu has strengthened the implementation of the Yaoundé architecture for regional cooperation, promoted the adoption of the ISPS code, facilitated the acquisition of naval equipment and encouraged community intelligence engagement.
Dr. Adalikwu also advanced the CINFOCOM (Centre for Information and Communications) initiative for real-time security information sharing, helping to reduce piracy, with near-zero incidents reported by the International Maritime Bureau at times.
MOWCA endorsed models such as the Nigeria SPOMO (Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offenses) Act for possible regional adoption and supported the successful prosecution of maritime criminals in countries including Nigeria and Togo.
In terms of human capital development and international partnerships, his efforts secured a $1.3 million deal with the Indonesian government to train 96 seafarers from WCOA member states, improving skills and employability.
He also strengthened ties with global bodies such as the IMO, including signing a MoU and facilitating collaborations for professional training and the growth of the blue economy.
Adalikwu initiated the creation of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) to finance maritime transport and sustainable port infrastructure, an initiative that had stagnated for over a decade before his first election.
He also promotes initiatives such as the Regional Maritime Fund, the Integrated Sub-Regional Coast Guard Network to combat illegal activities at sea, the Regional Transport Observatory for information dissemination, the Regional Maritime Code to harmonize legislation, empowerment of merchant marines and maritime administrations, and a regional cabotage shipping company to boost intra-African trade.
He was recently named Africa's Most Influential Maritime Personality 2025 by JournalNG magazine for transforming MOWCA into a regional maritime power and positioning it as a unifying force for Africa's maritime future aligned with the objectives of the AfCFTA.
Its leadership has emphasized strategic reforms and partnerships, focusing on challenges such as underfunded maritime infrastructure, low ship ownership and foreign domination in the African maritime space.
Dr. Adalikwu is a strong advocate of a continent-wide cabotage regime, ensuring that African maritime investors and professionals are given priority in employment opportunities and maritime entrepreneurship.
The 19th General Assembly, which also coincided with the organization's 50th anniversary, saw the election of Barrister Olimatou Danso Malang, Director General of the Gambia Maritime Administration, as Chairman of the group of MOWCA experts from 2026 to 2028.
Source: https://themirroronline.com.ng/mowca-sg-adalikwu-secures-second-term-promises-maritime-growth-across-africa/
