The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a training pact with the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) to facilitate Certificate of Competency (CoC) examinations for beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP).
According to the assistant director, public relations of NIMASA, Osagie Edward, the NSDP is a sponsored intervention programme implemented by NIMASA to grow the capacity of young Nigerians to be certified as seafarers with global recognition and acceptance, thus bridging the gap in the dearth of seafarers globally.
The CoC examination is the final stage of the NSDP training, culminating in the acquisition of the CoC licence which potentially opens the doors of global employment opportunities for the cadets.
Speaking at an induction ceremony, NIMASA’s director-general, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, highlighted the success of the collaboration between both parties in fostering the development of Nigerian seafarers.
The Jamoh, who was represented by the agency’s director of special duties, Isichei Osamgbi, noted that NIMASA sincerely appreciates NSML for their leadership and vision in partnering the agency to support the development of seafarers and promotion of our local contents onboard their vessels.
He said, “It is worthy of note that a good number of NSDP Officers trained onboard NSML vessels are now employed by the company. Today, we are proud to announce that 150 Romanian-trained NSDP cadets have concluded their mandatory onboard sea training and are ready to proceed for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) training and examinations.”
The permanent secretary in the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, in her remarks, charged the cadets to be “worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.”
Ajani, who was represented by a deputy director, Mrs. Ekanem Saila, said the collaboration between NIMASA and NSML was a welcome development and the outcome of discussions which have been on-going for some time.
On his part, the managing director/CEO of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, said the organisation was sponsoring 50 of the cadets to the South Shield Marine School in the UK for a 12 month programme to get their certificates of competency required to trade on vessels globally.
