Oyetola Expresses Support for MOWCA Initiated Collaboration of West Africa’s Maritime Training Institutions
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has stated Nigeria’s support for the collaborative exchange visit of the Regional Maritime University, Ghana and the Academie Regionale Des sciences et Technique de la Mer, Cote d’Ivoire to Nigeria.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the meeting holding at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Oyetola who was represented by the Ministry’s Deputy Director; Cabotage and Shipping Development,Mrs Selia Ekanem, described the collaboration organised by the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa ( MOWCA) as laudable .
According to the minister, this collaboration of MOWCA, RMU, ATRSM and Maritime Academy of Nigeria will work in the pursuit of cadets development and capacity building
Oyetola while commending the Dr. Paul Adalikwu, MOWCA Secretary General,added that his ministry will always support such exchange in the leading to improved seatime and job opportunities for maritime cadets from Nigeria and other participating countries.
The four day meeting which features overview of the academies, lectures conferences and guided facility tours is the maiden session aims to harmonise certificate of competencies while ensuring that all countries involving adhere to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Standard of Training Certification and Watch keeping( STCW) as amended.
Speaking at the opening session of the meeting,Dr Adalikwu said MOWCA remains firmly committed to supporting initiatives that enhance maritime capacity and institutional collaboration across member states.
He added that the programme aligns with the organisation’s broader strategic priorities, which include the development of a skilled maritime workforce, promotion of safe, secure, and efficient shipping, strengthening regional integration and providing the needed capacity for the promotion of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Intra-African trade.
He added that the synergy will further research into Africa’s contribution in finding solutions to the discussion on alternative fuel energy sources and supporting the establishment of sustainable maritime institutions, including initiatives such as the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank
Keynote speaker at the event, Dr Edmund Chilaka, an adjunct lecturer from the University of Lagos stated that there are about 100,000 vacant seafaring jobs which the countries in West and Central Africa could seek ways to fill the global maritime manpower gap.
One Comment