Dakuku Peterside

Dr. Dakuku Peterside was born on 31 December 1970, in Rivers State, Nigeria. He is the son of Senibo Adolphus Peterside of Opobo in Rivers State, Nigeria. He attended Okrika Grammar School, Nigeria. After graduation from Okrika Grammar School he proceeded to the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt where he studied Medical Laboratory Sciences, specializing in Haematology and Blood Transfusion. While in school he was elected the National President, National Union of Rivers State Students in January 1992.

After graduation from the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt he went back to earn a master's degree in Management. He holds a second master's degree in Management Science. He obtained a Doctoral degree from the University of Port Harcourt, in Organizational Behavior, specializing in Corporate Political Strategy.

After graduation from the University, he joined public service and was first appointed Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State (Dr. Peter Odili) on Student and Youth Affairs in August 1999. He held subsequent positions as Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, local government chairman of Opobo – Nkoro LGA, Commissioner for works, . Dr. Peterside is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management, fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and member, Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences of Nigeria.

Has attended high level leadership and management courses in Harvard, Standford, KELLOG and Georgia Tech in the US , Stellenboch in South Africa, Galilee in Israel and Oxford in the UK.

Dr. Peterside was elected to serve in the House of Representatives from 2011 to May 2015 representing Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency of Nigeria. As member of the house, he was appointed chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) where he had the privilege to oversight strategic National Oil and Gas establishments such as Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company. He co-over sighted Petroleum Technology Development Fund. He led other legislators to sponsor and champion the Petroleum Industry Bill as chairman of the technical Committee of the House of Representatives. He presented a total of 36 scholarly papers in five countries on the reform of Oil and Gas industry and government institutions in developing countries.

He previously served as Commissioner for Works from October 2007 to January 2011 in Rivers State. As Commissioner for works, he managed the largest construction portfolio ever in the history of state government's construction, supervising a total of 200 road projects.

Before serving as commissioner for Works, Dr. Peterside had served as Executive Director, Development and Leadership Institute from 2005 to2007, Special Adviser to Governor of Rivers State on works from 2003 to 2005, chairman, Opobo–Nkoro LGA (2002–2003). He also served concurrently on the Board of Centre for Black and African Arts and Culture.

As Director General / CEO of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), he led the biggest regulatory reforms in the history of Maritime Regulation in Africa between the year 2016 and 2020.

Under his management, he accomplished the following landmark achievements amongst others ;

• Nigeria became the first country in West/Central Africa to have a distinct anti-piracy law.
• Nigeria was adjudged the Number 1 in West & Central Africa in Port State Control.
• The country placed the highest ever number of seafarers (7000)  on board cabotage vessels between 2018 and 2019
• The first country in Africa to have its Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC) Fund approved.
• Convened and hosted the first Globs
• The Establishment of an Integrated National Surveillance and Waterways Protection Solution with Command and Control Infrastructure (DEEP BLUE PROJECT).

Dr. Peterside was elected chairman Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA). He delivered a record 205 presentations across 35 countries in a period of 4 years on oil and gas maritime and security in the Gulf of Guinea.

• NIMASA awarded the Public Organization of the year 2016 Awards by the Prestigious Tell Magazine and  Regulatory Agency of the year by The independent newspapers 2019. NIMASA received several national awards under  his stewardship.

• List of people from Rivers State