Sambo Commends NIMASA on Human Capital Development, as Agency Sends Batch B Seafarers to Foreign Training
By Francis Ugwoke
The Transport Minister, Alhaji Muazu JaJi Sambo , on Saturday commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the giant strides so far made in the area of human capital development in the maritime sector.
Sambo made the commendation on the occasion of the flag off ceremony of Batch B of 3rd phase of the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) held in Lagos.
Sambo said he was pleased with the success story recorded since NIMASA started the programme in 2008 in which over 2,000 students have been trained in Marine Engineering, Nautical Science and Naval Architecture, among other specialized courses.
He added that the good news was that many of those who benefitted from the training were now gainfully employed and sailing on both coastal and international vessels.
According to the Minister, “The presence of these officers is a further testament to the fact that the programme is a success. I have been made to understand that the programme had produced a female tugboat captain in the person of CANUS EBINIPRE ROBINSON and several Deck mates and 2nd Engineers currently sailing in both coastal and international vessels.
“The NLNG has in the meantime employed more than 44 of NSDP officers and still counting. This is quite commendable and calls for more concerted efforts towards ensuring that the NSDP graduates are gainfully employed.
“The success of this laudable policy cannot be overemphasized therefore the Federal Ministry of Transportation will continue to encourage and partner with NIMASA on NSDP and other policies on the development of a sustainable maritime based economy (Blue Economy).
“Hence, the Ministry explicitly gave its nod on the expansion of the Programme by another set of 435 new students to be recruited into the NSDP. The flag off of the 3rd phase of NSDP ‘’Christened NSDP-TERRA’’ marks another milestone in the development of manpower in line with the Federal Government policy on youth empowerment”.
The Minister noted that the collapse of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) had created a gap in the manpower development of the shipping industry in Nigeria especially in the area of shipboard training and manning.
He recalled that the implementation of the coastal and inland shipping policy increased the demand for Nigerian seafarers which as at that time was in gross shortage.
He added that to address the aforementioned shortfall the Federal Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA had to midwife the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) in 2008.
According to him, the programme as an intervention was designed to train Nigerian youths to become seafarers.
He further explained, “The choice of foreign Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) was mainly based on capacity and certification of the Institutions in the area of maritime training (STCW) by IMO.
“The initiative targeted training globally competitive officers that will erase the unfortunate discrimination that exists between local and foreign trained officers in practice”.
The Minister disclosed that efforts were being made in the area of upgrading local Maritime Training Institutions to enable them take up the NSDP trainings in the near future.
He urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the nation and justify the massive investment , adding that the programme was a “rare opportunity that is highly sought after by your peers, but providence has placed it on you and must be guarded jealously for the development and benefit of the nation”.
“We will continually monitor your progress in the programme and will not hesitate to discipline the recalcitrant ones among you. I urge you all to eschew drugs and any conduct that will portray the nation in bad light.”, he said.
The NIMASA DG, Jamoh, had in his welcome address advised the cades to take advantage of the opportunity given to them and make the nation proud.
Jamoh told the cadets to be focused on their studies to be able to achieve the purpose of embarking on the training programme, describing the opportunities given to them as rare.
He said that on successful completion of the programme such opportunities arising from global trading fleet in view of development in Asia and Cabotage shipping regime in Nigeria and those provided by the Liquefied Natural Gas projects await them.
Jamoh said, “To our youthful cadets, as you set sail, we make but only one demand of you: that you never lose sight of the mission of this voyage; avoid the foreign distractions that can cause a shipwreck to your budding careers and dedicate yourselves to the completion of your education so that your country’s huge investment will not be in vain. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. .
“The past decade has witnessed an increase in the global trading fleet, partly on account of developments in Asia and other emerging opportunities.
“In Nigeria, the demand for seafarers has also increased on account of the Cabotage regime which requires that vessels engaged in commercial trade and operations in the coastal and inland waters in Nigeria should be manned by Nigerians.
“The expanding opportunities provided by the Liquefied Natural Gas projects have also been a major boost for manpower demand of the sector. With prospects for the commencement of operations of the Brass LNG, the expansion of the NLNG trains and the Olokola Gas project, manpower demand for that sector has doubled the existing number.
“Another prospect is the growing off-shore oil exploration and production activities, which have increased the vessel requirements to meet demand in the sector.
“Other areas with significant prospects include the fishing sector, the manning of inland waterway crafts and coastal tankers. Overall, the prospects for the future of the Nigerian shipping industry remain very bright in spite of the manpower constraints. It is our hope that the NSDP scheme will in the long run increase the pool of Nigerian seafarers for export to other Countries”.
Thanking the Minister for the support he has given in respect of the programme and being present on the occasion,Jamoh said, “Today marks another milestone on the human capacity development drive of the maritime industry as championed by NIMASA”.
He disclosed that from inception to 2020, “the programme has enrolled 2,041 students, while 892 are now licensed deck and engine officers including naval Architects, the rest are in their final stage of the programme.
“It may please the Minister to know that about 486 of the graduates are now gainfully employed and sailing in both coastal and ocean-going vessels”.