By Fola James
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh has disclosed that the agency is poised to develop capacity in the nation’s maritime sector.
Jamoh said this after the agency renewed its Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the World Maritime University, WMU, Malmo.
Speaking after signing the MoU virtually, Jamoh noted that there is no substitute to education. “The Collaboration with the World Maritime University by NIMASA is to advance maritime interest while addressing the changing needs of the maritime industry based on sustainable capacity development; aseducation, training and capacity building play a major role in developing shipping in any nation”, he said.
Dr. Jamoh used the opportunity to reveal that the Agency is at an advanced stage in setting up a Regional Maritime Safety and Security Research Center to enhance research works.
The centre is to take care of capacity development in 25 African countries. “Graduates from the WMU who are in the employ of the Agency will serve as Researchers and Resource Persons, Sharing knowledge and hopefully develop a research based sustainable framework to provide solution to issues of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea.
The NIMASA Regional Maritime Safety and Security Research Center will be a center of excellence in research and we will collaborate and cooperate with other countries”.
On her part, the President of the WMU, Dr.Cleopatra Doumbia- Henry noted that NIMASA is playing a leading role in developing capacity for the maritime industry in the Gulf of Guinea region. Shecommended Nigerian students who have passed through the University, welcomed the agreement and added that NIMASA is one of the first supporters of WMU.
Accordingly, she stated that the initiative also supports the WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Nigeria leads, others follow. WMU is delighted to be associated with NIMASA and its work which extends beyond national boundaries, and has a significant effect on the whole region.
“We are also pleased to have such a successful and warm relationship with NIMASA and its staff – it is a perfect example of international cooperation for sustainable growth. I look forward to the fruitful outcome of our collaborative efforts as articulated in the Memorandum and based on the principles of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefit.”
The agreement provides for maritime education, training, research and capacity building for officers of NIMASA with at least 10 officers funded annually by the Agency to study at WMU in the MSc in Maritime Affairs programme based in Malmo, Sweden.
In addition, NIMASA will sponsor at least one officer per year to study in the WMU/IMLI MPhil programme in International Maritime Law and Ocean Policy.
The agreement also provides for WMU to develop and organize short-term, specialized Executive Professional Development Courses, EPDCs for NIMASA officers.
