The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced plans to review the curriculum used by maritime training institutions in Nigeria, saying the move is aimed at improving the global recognition of seafarers’ certification.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this when the Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, led by its Chairman, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, paid a working visit to the agency’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.
Mobereola said effective collaboration between NIMASA and MAN, Oron, remained critical to the development of seafarer training and the growth of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
He announced that the agency was working on a review of the curriculum for the Standard Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 2017, used by maritime training institutions in the country.
“For over 32 years Nigerian training institutions have been operating with obsolete curricula,” he said, adding that NIMASA was determined to benchmark the curriculum against globally acceptable standards.
According to him, the review is part of efforts to ensure that seafarers’ certification in Nigeria enjoys international recognition.
The NIMASA boss also reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting the training and promotion of Nigerian seafarers through MAN, Oron, noting that human capital development remained a critical component of Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
In his response, Akinola said MAN, Oron, was equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and remained one of the leading maritime training institutions in Africa.
While appreciating NIMASA’s continued support to the Academy, he disclosed that MAN, Oron, had developed a five-year development plan, which included the acquisition of a training vessel to enhance practical training for cadets.
Akinola further revealed that the Liberian Maritime Administration and a Liberian maritime training institute, which recently visited the Academy, had expressed interest in collaborating with MAN, Oron, to create opportunities for Nigerian seafarers to undertake sea-time training aboard Liberian-flagged vessels.
He said the proposed collaboration would provide Nigerian cadets with additional opportunities to gain practical experience and strengthen their competitiveness in the global maritime labour market.
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