NIMASA, WMU sign MoU on capacity development

THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Maritime University (WMU), in Malmo, Sweden, to develop the human capacity for the Nigerian maritime sector.

According to a statement signed over the weekend by NIMASA Spokesman, Isichei Osamgbi, the Director General of the Agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside who led a delegation from Nigeria to Malmo, expressed optimism that the MoU will help the agency realize its strategic plans to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector for greater efficiency.

He also added that it is in line with the ongoing reforms being championed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi.

“This MoU with WMU is an important element of the strategic reforms and repositioning of NIMASA to be the leading maritime administration in Africa.

This is also part of ongoing reforms of the maritime sector in Nigeria which the President of Nigeria and Minister of Transportation are championing.

The partnership with WMU is in line with the four pillar of NIMASA’s medium-term growth plan which addresses capacity building and particularly raising a new generation of forward-looking Maritime policymakers and regulators,” Dr Peterside said.

Accordingly, the MoU covers academic, collaborative and reciprocal activities in the fields of training and research to be provided by WMU geared towards building capacity to grow the Nigerian maritime industry.

Arrangements relating to fellowship funding for the WMU M.Sc programme are included as well as the M.Phil programme offered in cooperation with the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Malta. Further, the MoU provides for NIMASA officers to take advantage of WMU’s distance learning portfolio as well as Executive Professional Development Courses to reinforce the capacity of its staff.

Dr Peterside, who expressed gratitude to the President and Management of WMU for their cooperation, also gave a firm commitment that NIMASA will actively implement the provisions of the MoU.

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On her part, the President of the WMU, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry embraced the signing of the MoU and expressed optimism that it will help support Nigeria’s economic growth and the competitiveness of its maritime industry, adding that it also supports the WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In her words, “We are delighted with the engagement with NIMASA in the framework of this MoU which will set the stage for a new partnership with Nigeria.

It will also help support Nigeria’s economic growth and the competitiveness of its maritime industry as well as advance the maritime interest of the country.

This MoU also supports WMU’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4 which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all; and Goal 14 which covers ocean issues, including maritime.”

It may be recalled that the current Executive Management of NIMASA has embraced collaboration as a hallmark, as it is the only way to generate new ideas for economic growth.

Also, the DG has stated at various fora that the Agency is willing to partner with any relevant organization that can help actualize the vision of a robust maritime sector in Nigeria.