Uche Cecil Izuora
The Governing Board of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, led by its Chairman, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, paid a working visit to the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) at the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Lagos.
The Director General NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, in his speech noted that effective collaboration between MAN, Oron and NIMASA is key to the development of training of seafarers in Nigeria.
The DG announce that the Agency is working on a review of the curriculum of the Standard Training Certification and Watch-keeping(STCW) 2017, for Maritime Training Institutions in Nigeria.
In his words, “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. This is in a quest to ensure that seafarer’s certification in Nigeria enjoys global recognition.
The DG further reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to supporting the successful training and promotion of Nigerian seafarers through MAN, Oron, while noting that human capital remains one of the most critical components for the development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
In his response the Chairman of the Governing Board, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola stated that the Academy is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and remains one of the leading maritime training institutions in Africa.
While appreciating the management of NIMASA for its continued support to the Academy, the Chairman disclosed that MAN, Oron, has developed a five-year development plan, which includes the acquisition of a training vessel to further enhance practical training for cadets.
He further revealed that the Liberian Maritime Administration and a Liberian maritime training institute, which recently visited the Academy, have expressed interest in collaborating with MAN, Oron, to facilitate opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to undertake sea-time training onboard Liberian-flagged vessels.
The proposed collaboration, he noted, would provide Nigerian cadets with additional opportunities to gain practical experience and strengthen their competitiveness in the global maritime labour market.