R-L: Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr.Bashir Jamoh and Managing Director, Starz Marine and Engineering LTD., Engr. Greg Ogbeifun during the visit by the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology and their partners APEC/OCHA from the Port of Antwerp Belgium to the NIMASA Headquarters in Lagos
… As Jamoh highlights the need for an enhanced Curriculum, Capacity domestication, to conserve foreign exchange***
The Chairman of the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun today highlighted the need for a comprehensive training of Nigerians, particularly relevant trainings that create opportunities for professionalism and enhanced competence.
Engr. Ogbeifun, easily recognized as the nation’s foremost shipping mogul made the observation, during an official visit to the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and the Agency management.
Also read: GREG OGBEIFUN: An Enigma, Business Icon driven by Kindness and Passion!
He was accompanied on the important visit, by some representatives of the Port of Antwerp; and officials of the Edo State (Polytechnic Usen) where the Greg Ogbeifun Maritime Institute of Technology (GOMIT) is domiciled.
Stressing the Institute’s Commitment to collaborate with the NIMASA, the Shipping Mogul, commended the 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.
He specifically sought for the creation of an enabling environment, saying this is necessary to make Nigerians hit the peak and deliver more excellently.
R-L: Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr.Bashir Jamoh and Managing Director, Starz Marine and Engineering LTD., Engr. Greg Ogbeifun during the visit by the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology and their partners APEC/OCHA from the Port of Antwerp Belgium to the NIMASA Headquarters in Lagos
“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 a training need assessment for pool workers.
“We consider certification as a key component of the training loop”, Engr Ogbeifun said.
Responding, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh emphasized the Agency’s Commitment to the pursuit of capacity domestication, in a bid to save Nigeria, the scarce foreign exchange.
Dr Jamoh agreed on the need for comprehensive training of young Nigerians particularly at home, adding that NIMASA is already working on adopting a reciprocity policy for Recognition of Certificate of Competency and other Certificates to facilitate international trade.
The NIMASA boss urged the management of (the GOMIT) Institute to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with reputable international learning Institutes to ensure that the quality of education meets internationally acceptable standards, explaining further that as a new Maritime Institute, the gaps identified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the latest IMSAS report should be given priority and addressed.
“NIMASA has recognized 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 recognized globally.
When we are satisfied that all requirements have been met, we will then adopt the reciprocity rule in recognition of certificates.
NIMASA will not recognize the Certificates issued by Maritime Administrations of Non-friendly nations whose decision not to recognize certificates issued in Nigeria are unjustifiable”, he said.
From 3rd Right: The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr.Bashir Jamoh; Director OCHA from the Port of Antwerp Belgium, Ms. Ann Baats; Executive Director Finance and Administration, NIMASA Mr. Chudi Offodile, 4th left; Managing Director Starz Marine and Engineering LTD. Engr. Greg Ogbeifun; Mr. Philippe Droesbeke of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); Executive Director, Maritime and Cabotage Services NIMASA, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei and Executive Director Operations NIMASA, Mr. Shehu Ahmedduring the visit by the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology and their partners APEC/OCHA from the Port of Antwerp to the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos.
He was especially encouraged that GOMIT was already in seamless collaboration and partnership with the Training Center for Blue Collar Port Workers in the Port of Antwerp Belgium, and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation members
The NIMASA DG also acknowledged the 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 highlighted that the Agency had secured approval of Fiscal incentive of zero percent import duty on brand new vessels; adding that the Agency is working on monetary incentives such as the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund which he said NIMASA awaits further directives from the Federal Ministry of Transportation.