Amaechi flags off NSDP-3 training with 200 Cadets

As Jamoh Pledge Securing CoC Status Agreement

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, weekend flagged off the third phase of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), comprised of 200 cadets.

During the flag-off ceremony organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in Lagos Friday, Amaechi urged the 200 NSDP-3 cadets to be of good behaviour and to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in their host countries, even as he commended the resilience of NIMASA in ensuring the success and expansion of the programme.

“The doggedness of NIMASA in ensuring the success of this programme is commendable, but I would like the Agency to include more local training institutions that meet the standard required for the training,” Amaechi said.

“For those who are leaving, please, do not embarrass the country. You are not just ambassadors of NIMASA, you are ambassadors of Nigeria. You have to be of utmost good behaviour.

“You have to study and pass your exams. There are so many youths who want this opportunity that you have. It means that you must show NIMASA that they did not make any mistake in choosing you.”

Mindful of the possibility of some of the cadets not getting hired by foreign companies after their sea time training, the minister advised that they return home, noting that  opportunities are gradually opening up for them in Nigeria.

In the statement signed by NIMASA Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edwards, the minister said:  “After training, some of you will be hired overseas. The ones that are not hired overseas, please, come back to the country. This country is changing, in time, you will see the changes as you come. It won’t be easy, it’s difficult, but the changes are coming gradually,” he assured.

In his welcome address, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said the third phase of NSDP, called NSDP Tera, has addressed many of the challenges encountered in the previous stages of the programme.

He claimed that the country was set for a better, more innovative maritime manpower development experience with latest phase.

“NSDP-3 brings our maritime manpower development strategy to the next level. It is a complete package, which offers the cadets everything they need to qualify as seafarers, from shore-based training, to sea time training, and attainment of Certificate of Competency (CoC).”

On the issue of international recognition of Nigerian CoCs, Jamoh stated that the Agency was working on signing bilateral agreements with some countries to facilitate greater recognition and acceptance of the country’s seafarers, in addition to optimizing the benefits of the programme.

He said, “To prepare ourselves for the coming opportunities, the Agency will make concerted efforts to sign bi-lateral agreements of mutual recognition of Certificate of Competency to open opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to work abroad.

“We are working with industry experts to ensure that our Maritime Education and Training (MET) meets international standards.”

Also speaking, Chairman, Board of NIMASA, Asita Honourable Asita, extolled the impact of the NSDP in the country’s maritime sector, and encouraged the cadets to be a good example to other youths in the country.

Former Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, who delivered a goodwill message, expressed delight in the pace of implementation of NSDP by the Dr. Jamoh led Management.  Dosunmu emphasised the huge economic benefits of the programme, in terms of foreign currency repatriation and employment creation, among others, and called for its sustenance and continued expansion.

The former Director General commended Amaechi “for providing purposeful leadership in the maritime sector. The sector has witnessed unprecedented growth since you became Minister. The removal of wrecks in our waters has commenced, piracy has reduced drastically; I commend this administration.”

Also delivering a goodwill message, Managing Director of Charkin Maritime Academy, Sir Charles Wami, called for more partnership among indigenous maritime institutions on sea time training. Wami advised the cadets to be disciplined.

“On board a ship, cadets are not supposed to be heard but seen. As long as the sea never dries, there will be job for you as mariners. This profession is one that you can be proud of”, he said.

There were goodwill messages from other industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, one of the highest employers of seafarers in Nigeria, and retired Merchant Navy Captain and former Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Iheanacho.

NSDP is an interventionist programme initiated to address the dearth of trained and certified seafarers in the Nigerian maritime industry. More than 2, 000 Nigerians have been trained under the NSDP since its commencement in 2009.