Hajia Lami Tumaka

Deputy Director/Head, Public Relations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency

Hajia Lami Tumaka has under belt more than three decades experience in journalism and public relations in both the public and private sectors, making her an all-rounder to which no terrain is unfamiliar.

A holder of Bachelors and Masters degrees in English Literature and Business Administration, respectively, from the Ahmadu Bello University, Tumaka taught for five years before joining the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Minna, and rose to the position of news editor within four years. She left journalism for public relations in the employ of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Kaduna, becoming the company’s public relations manager in 1995.

Three years later, in 1998, she returned to the public sector as chief research officer with the then National Maritime Authority, and subsequently transferred to the public relations department as an assistant director.

Tumaka’s resourcefulness, analytical mind and excellent communication skills make her the quintessential and consummate public relations and strategic media expert. It explains why the responsibility to reposition the image of NIMASA, which was at an all-time low after the sacking of Patrick Agbolokemi, the erstwhile director-general of the agency, fell on her shoulders.

Since she assumed her current position, the reputation of the foremost maritime agency has returned to what obtained in its glorious days, which explains her choice for the award of Most Outstanding Maritime Industry Image Maker for 2015, at the 6th National Evergreen Maritime Merit Award organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), last year.

A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Tumaka, who is often referred to as Northern Belle,  also holds a diploma in Public Relations from Hollborn College, London and certificate in Basic Film Production from the Television College, Jos. She was the pioneer chairperson of Niger State Women in Media.