2023 – MARINERS AT THE FRONTLINES
Navy Commodore Omatseye Oritseweyinmi Nesiama (Rtd), NNPP Candidate for Delta South Senatorial District, is a man with a mission. A member of GCU 1978 Class, Omatseye had a glittering career in the Nigerian Navy from which he retired as a Commodore. Since then he has taken out time to reach back into his roots, setting up a charity to address common problems facing his people. Commodore Nesiama after retirement has been involved in a lot of mentoring and life coaching of young persons and adults. He utilises opportunities presented through platforms presented by the church, businesses and even sports to carry out his mentorship and role-modelling activities. He strongly advocates for creation of avenues for the youths to gain meaningful engagements.
However, aware that the needs of his people will take more than his limited personal efforts to address, Nesiama launched his political career and secured the senatorial ticket of the NNPP for his Delta South district. His campaign is focused on providing quality representation for the people of the district of which he has many tentacles. He is connected by birth to Itsekiri as an Uwangue-Ologbotsere descendant; to Ijaw as a Leigbene-Arifa descendant and to Umolo-Olomu as an Omotukoli descendant. He is known to have associated very closely and shown uncommon loyalty to friendship while supporting many of his Isoko allies to achieve enviable military, sports and political leadership positions. Recent online polls show Nesiama performing extremely well against his opponents including the major parties. Those sampled mention his education, integrity, competence and empathy as his major attractions.
Omatseye Nesiama was born in Sapele, Delta State. After his primary education, he attended Government College Ughelli (GCU) in Delta State.
He began his military career at the Nigerian Naval College, Onne as a member of the 5th Regular Combatant Course in June 1984. In furtherance of his military career, Commodore Nesiama attended several military courses, initially sub-specialising in Intelligence Statecraft, before qualifying as an Above Water Warfare (AWW) – Anti Air and Anti Surface Specialist.
He graduated as first in overall order of merit and second in overall order of merit at his junior and senior staff courses respectively, earning major awards in his time at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna State. He graduated as a Counter-Terrorism Fellow from the George C Marshall Institute for International and Security Studies, Germany in 2007. To cap his military education, he attended the prestigious PLA National Defence University, Beijing, China where he graduated with Distinction in Defence and Strategic Studies in 2012.
In his quest for further enhancement in the civil management field, Commodore Nesiama obtained a Diploma in Sports Management with Distinction at the National Institute for Sports, Lagos in 2001, a Post Graduate Diploma in Shipping Management in 2007 as well as a Masters Degree in Transport Management from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State in 2009.
Commodore Nesiama was commissioned a Sub Lieutenant in 1988, promoted Lieutenant in 1992, Lieutenant Commander in 1997, Commander in 2002, Captain in 2007 and Commodore in 2012. Among positions held are: Commander Nigerian Navy Intelligence Annex, Lagos, Deputy Director Naval Transformation and Director of Physical Training and Sports at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja. He was also Command Ashore and Sea Training Officer at the Naval Training Command, Apapa before retiring honourably from Service in 2016. He led the initial ECOMOG landing operation, which provided required intelligence that enabled the ECOMOG forces take-over of the strategic Liberian Port of Buchanan from the Charles Taylor rebel forces in April 1993. He chaired the committee that developed new concepts and curricula for all the 11 professional training colleges and schools in the Nigerian Navy. His leadership effort was laudable, especially considering the fact that this novel task had never been previously undertaken. He designed and produced a Training Record Book for seafarers in line with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Standard for Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) convention which got the Navy approval for use by the Midshipmen in the Fleet till date.
Commodore Nesiama served as Chief Security Officer to the Military Administrator of Enugu State, Aide de Camp (ADC) to the Military Administrator of Abia State and General Staff Officer to the Honourable Minister of State for Defence and later to the Honourable Minister of Defence. He was a member of the State Security Councils of Enugu and Abia States at different times.
He is the first Nigerian to pass the prerequisite examinations to qualify as an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Licensed Athlete Manager.
He is the second Nigerian ever to pass the requisite examinations that qualify to be appointed into the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) International Technical Officials (ITO) Panel for competition management in Africa.
As Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, he set up an actionable strategic road map for an enhanced athletics performance for Nigerian athletes. He is the recipient of a string of commendations for excellence in Sports Management, public sector efficiency and military exploits.
He holds the PSC, Fellowship of the National Defence University, China, (fndu), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Fellow Institiute of Management Consultants (FIMC), Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Fellow Nigeria Institute of Industrial Security (FNIIS) and Fellowship of the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria (FCIS).
He is decorated with the Forces Service Star (FSS) and Meritorious Service Star (MSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), ECOMOG Medal, Silver Jubilee Medal and Golden Jubilee Medal.
Commodore Nesiama is married to Mrs Roli Nesiama and blessed with children. His hobbies include listening to country gospel music, participation in sporting activities, travelling, reading and nature observation.
