The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it is working on a review of Nigeria’s maritime training curriculum to align seafarers’ certification with globally accepted standards and strengthen their competitiveness in the international maritime labour market.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this on Tuesday when the Governing Board of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, led by its Chairman, Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, paid a working visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Mobereola said effective collaboration between NIMASA and MAN, Oron, remains critical to improving seafarer training and developing the human capital required to drive Nigeria’s blue economy.
He said the Agency is working on a review of the 2017 Standard Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) curriculum for maritime training institutions in Nigeria, noting that the existing curriculum has become obsolete.
“For over 32 years, Nigerian training institutions have been operating with obsolete curricula. NIMASA is determined to review the curriculum and benchmark against the very best globally acceptable standard,” he said.
According to him, the review is aimed at ensuring that seafarers trained and certified in Nigeria enjoy global recognition, while improving the quality of maritime manpower produced by the country.
L-R, Executive Director Operations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Engr. Fatai Adeyemi; Representative of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Mrs Inja Husseini; Board Chairman, MAN, Oron. Engr. Kehinde Akinola; Director General/CEO, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abba and Ag. Rector MAN Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna during a working visit by the management of MAN Oron to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.
The DG also reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to supporting the training and career development of Nigerian seafarers through MAN, Oron, stressing that human capital remains one of the most critical components of Nigeria’s blue economy development.
Speaking during the visit, Akinola said MAN, Oron, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and remains one of Africa’s leading maritime training institutions.
He appreciated NIMASA for its continued support to the Academy and disclosed that MAN, Oron, has developed a five-year development plan, which includes the acquisition of a training vessel to strengthen practical training for cadets.
Akinola further disclosed that the Liberian Maritime Administration and a Liberian maritime training institution that recently visited the Academy have expressed interest in collaborating with MAN, Oron, to create opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to undertake sea-time training aboard Liberian-flagged vessels.
He said the proposed collaboration would provide Nigerian cadets with additional opportunities to acquire practical experience and strengthen their competitiveness in the global maritime labour market.
