UN-POLAC honours Shittu, moves to establish maritime desk

The United Nations Positive Livelihood Award Centre (UN-POLAC) on Wednesday formally conferred Prince Olayiwola Shittu, with the title of International Advocate of Peace, as he unveiled plans to establish a dedicated maritime desk within the organisation to tackle challenges in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

The proposal emerged as a key highlight of the 2026 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace celebration, with Shittu indicating that the platform would be used to promote dialogue, resolve disputes and strengthen harmony across the maritime value chain.

Shittu, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), described the proposed maritime desk as a strategic initiative capable of deepening stakeholder engagement, fostering conflict resolution and supporting sustainable growth in the industry.

Speaking shortly after the conferment, he said the recognition was not merely ceremonial but a call to greater responsibility and service to society.

According to him, the conferment reinforces the imperative of giving back to society and provides a broader platform to intervene in crises and contribute meaningfully to peacebuilding efforts.

Drawing a direct connection between the global observance of multilateralism and the realities of the maritime sector, Shittu said he was excited by the opportunities UN-POLAC could unlock for the industry, disclosing ongoing efforts toward the creation of a Maritime Desk aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in the sector through dialogue, mediation and institutional collaboration.

He dedicated the honour to his family, the ANLCA family, his team at the Maritime Industry Merit Awards and stakeholders across the nation’s maritime industry.

Delivering the guest lecture, legal luminary, Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere SAN, underscored the inseparable relationship between peace and economic stability, arguing that sustainable growth cannot be achieved outside a framework of peace.

She said economic peace should be deliberately pursued through policies, ethical business principles and inclusive frameworks capable of bringing government, citizens and the private sector to a common table.

Anishere maintained that peace is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic economic necessity, warning that growth can only be sustained where justice, cooperation and stability are institutionalised.

In his remarks as Chairman of the occasion, the Chairman of the Customs Consultative Committee (CCC), Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, described the event’s theme, “Uniting for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future” as both inspirational and a practical call to action, stressing that multilateralism has become a necessity for global survival in an increasingly interconnected world.

Olanrewaju said peace should be understood not merely as the absence of conflict but as the presence of justice, equity and understanding, adding that the role of the CCC aligns strongly with those ideals as a bridge connecting policy with practice, government with industry and regulation with cooperation.

He emphasized that through stakeholder engagement across the trade and supply chain ecosystem, the committee continues to promote collaboration, efficiency and mutual understanding, insisting that where there is collaboration, there is efficiency.

Also speaking, Director General of UN-POLAC, Eton Obong, represented by Pastor Zacchaeus Ogunsaya, said peace must be intentionally built through cooperation, justice, discipline and sincere dialogue, stressing that multilateralism remains indispensable in addressing global challenges.

He urged members of UN-POLAC to go beyond ceremonial affiliation by embodying the values of peace in conduct and character, adding that members must demonstrate self-control, tolerance, integrity and active participation in the mission of the organisation.

Obong described the day as not just a celebration but a call to responsibility, urging honourees and members alike to serve as genuine ambassadors of peace.