NIMASA steps up collaboration with agencies for early takeoff of maritime Varsity
After period of palpable objection, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has started working closely with some Agencies of Government at both Federal and State levels to ensure that academic activities at the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) commence next academic session at the site in Delta State.
The desire to fully support NMU was made public by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside during this year’s celebration of Day of the Seafarers with the theme ‘Seafarers Matter’.
He noted that the mandate of the University include bridging the gap in human capacity in the maritime sector, with particular reference to seafarers now perceived to be in high demand in the country and globally.
While restating that capacity building remain a focal mandate of the Agency, Dr Dakuku observed that continuous capacity building is required in order to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the maritime sector and the country as a whole.
“Learning is a continuous process, when we stop learning the sector cannot grow, and by extension the entire country. More so, the country is diversifying its resources and we need trained and competent personnel to man the different sectors of the economy. In this regard, in NIMASA there is a rebirth of focusing on our core mandate of which capacity development is topmost in order to realize a virile maritime sector. We therefore remain committed to the ideals of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Federal Government of making Nigeria a pride in the comity of nations”, the DG said.
Dr Dakuku urged seafarers to remain patriotic in the delivery of their services to their Fatherland and assured them that NIMASA will continue to collaborate with shipowners and relevant Stakeholders in the sector to ensure that their interest is protected. In his words “We are proud of you and be rest assured that we will ensure that your interest is protected; in the light of these, we will also ensure that all international instruments pertaining to your welfare are fully implemented,” Dr. Dakuku assured.
While assuring the Seafarers of the Agency’s continuous support, the DG stated that NIMASA will continue to give priority to capacity building initiatives in order to actualize its vision of making NIMASA a world class organisation in line with global best practices.
This according to him has also led the Agency to develop a multi-strategy approach to encouraging young school leavers to take a career at sea through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).
