NIMASA rejigs strategy on capacity development : * Harps on home grown techniques

NIMASA rejigs strategy on capacity development :

* Harps on home grown techniques

” Dr. Jamoh urges Maritime Institutes to update curriculum, as the Agency targets reciprocity of certificate recognition”

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh has declared that the Agency is committed to domestication of its capacity development programme, in order to save the nation scarce foreign exchange needed in training young Nigerians abroad.

Dr Jamoh stated this when he received the Management of Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology together with their partners from Training Center for Blue Collar Port Workers in Port of Antwerp Belgium, and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation members.

He also said that NIMASA is working on adopting a reciprocity policy for recognition of Certificate of Competency and other Certificates to facilitate international trade.

In a press statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Relations department of NIMASA, Mr
Osagie Edward, the NIMASA boss urged management of the Institute to enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with reputable international learning Institutes, in order to ensure that the quality of education meets internationally acceptable standards. He added that as a new Maritime Institute, the gaps identified by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the latest IMSAS report should be given priority and addressed.

His assertions:
“NIMASA has recognised the vast improvement in quality of maritime training in the country and we are looking inwards in our quest to develop human capacity for the Nigerian maritime industry. We are providing the required regulations to ensure that certificates earned from Institutes in Nigeria are recognised globally.

“When we are satisfied that all requirements have been met, we will adopt the reciprocity rule in recognition of certificates. NIMASA will not recognise Certificates issued by Maritime Administrations of Non friendly nations, whose decision not to recognise certificates issued in Nigeria are unjustifiable”.

Speaking further,
the NIMASA DG also acknowledged increase in the number of maritime training institutions in the country, describing it as a welcome development.

According to him : “Studies have established over 600,000 human capacity skill gap in the maritime sector. The need for more seafarers and dockworkers in Nigeria is obvious. Training and retraining of manpower are required for a virile maritime industry. We will do everything necessary in terms of regulations to ensure our training facilities meet international standards”.

Dr Jamoh disclosed that the Agency has secured approval of Fiscal incentive of zero percent import duty on brand new vessels, adding that the Agency is working on monetary incentive such as the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, which he said NIMASA awaits further directives from the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun said the Institute is committed to collaborating with existing Institutes.

He commended NIMASA Management under the leadership of Dr Jamoh for championing the quest to secure both fiscal and monetary incentives for stakeholders in the maritime industry.

“We at GOMIT are committed to attaining internationally acceptable standards in training dockworkers. Government should provide us with the enabling environment to achieve our goal. We will identify training need assessment for workers. We consider certification as a key component of the training loop”, Engr Ogbeifun said.

Representatives from the Port of Antwerp and officials of Edo State (Polytechnic Usen) where Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology is located were also present at the meeting.

R – L :  NIMASA boss, Dr.Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director, Starz Marine and Engineering LTD., Engr. Greg Ogbeifun during the visit by Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology and their partners APEC/OCHA from the Port of Antwerp Belgium to NIMASA Headquarters in Lagos :