Uche Cecil Izuora
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to placing Nigerian youths at the centre of the nation’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda, declaring that the country’s ambition to become Africa’s Blue Giant will be driven by the younger generation.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the declaration in a keynote address delivered at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Lecture held at the University of Lagos.
Represented by the Director of Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, the Director General commended SIFAX Group for sustaining the annual maritime lecture over the past decade, describing the initiative as a valuable platform for promoting knowledge and innovation in the maritime sector.
Mobereola said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda remains a key pillar of the administration’s economic diversification strategy, adding that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed NIMASA to equip young Nigerians with the skills and opportunities needed to drive the sector’s growth.
He highlighted several youth-focused initiatives being implemented by the Agency, including the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), the newly introduced Blue Economy Accelerator Initiative, skills acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones, and the establishment of Institutes of Maritime Studies in selected Nigerian universities.
According to him, the programmes are designed to build capacity, create employment opportunities and promote innovation among young Nigerians, positioning them to take advantage of emerging opportunities within the marine and blue economy.
As part of the event, NIMASA also engaged doctoral and master’s degree students of the University of Lagos in an interactive knowledge-sharing session led by the Director of Cabotage Services, Ms. Gloria Anyasodo.
The session featured presentations on shipping development, maritime logistics, Cabotage implementation and maritime labour regulation, providing participants with practical insights into the operations and opportunities within the maritime industry.
NIMASA said the engagement underscored the importance of stronger collaboration between academia and the maritime industry in advancing research, building capacity and developing practical solutions to the evolving challenges facing Nigeria’s maritime sector.