Lagos, Dec. 12, 2022 – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is sending 235 Nigerians to India and Greece as Batch B of the 435 young Nigerians to be trained as Licenced Deck and Engine Officers as well as Naval Architects under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme {NSDP)
A statement by NIMASA in Lagos today said Mallam Muazu Jaji Sambo, the Minister of Transportation, was the Special Guest at the sent-forth ceremony for the training programme christened “NSDP Phase 3, TERRA II” at the weekend in Lagos.
The minister said that the Federal Government’s decision to continue with the project was based on the commitment to keep developing capable workers for Nigerian maritime industry.
“The success of this laudable policy cannot be overemphasised, 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’s policy on youth empowerment.
Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of NIMASA, said that the agency was working with countries that had an understanding for mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency, CoC, in selecting the institutes to train the beneficiaries.
He acknowledged some teething challenges being experienced by the NSDP scholarship scheme in the earlier phases and said that all the grey areas had been addressed to ensure a better deal for both beneficiaries and the Nigerian Government.
“We have taken measures to ensure that all encumbrances experienced in previous phases of the programme are avoided in this new phase.
“These include improved recruitment process spread across the six (6) geo-political zones, introduction of a code of conduct for the beneficiaries and most importantly, engaging Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) that offer shore-based training, shipboard training and the certificate of competency licensing to eliminate the long delay in securing sea time training berths that was experienced with the previous set of students.
“NIMASA comparatively got the most reasonable cost for the training and in countries with mutual recognition of CoC with Nigeria.
“It is important to note 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,” he said.
He said that NLNG Ship Management Limited was the leading employer of NSDPbeneficiaries in the country with over 40 on their pay roll already.
Some stakeholders at the send forth ceremony included former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, Secretary General of Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren.
Others were Mr Greg Ogbeifun, Alhaji Aminu Umar and Mrs Margaret Orakwusi who are ship-owners.
NIMASA, had in 2008, initiated the NSDP with the sole mandate of training Nigerian youths to become seafarers and naval architects in fulfilling one of its core areas of maritime capacity building.
The programme was designed to train Nigerian youths up to degree level in marine engineering, nautical sciences and naval architecture in some of the best Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) abroad and to position them to compete effectively in the global maritime industry. (GBN)
