NIMASA, NSML To Train 150 NSDP Cadets Abroad
Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP) received a boost recently when the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA entered into a training agreement with the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas, NLNG to facilitate a Certificate of Competency, CoC examination for beneficiaries of the NSDP.
It would be recalled that the NSDP is a sponsored intervention programme being implemented by NIMASA to grow capacity of young Nigerians to be certified as seafarers with global recognition and acceptance, in order to bridge the gap in the dearth of seafarers globally. The CoC examination is the final stage of the NSDP training, culminating in the acquisition of the CoC license which potentially opens the doors of global employment opportunities for the cadets.
Speaking at an induction ceremony by NSML for 50 of NIMASA’s Romanian trained NSDP beneficiaries , the NIMASA Director General, Dr Bashir Jamoh OFR, highlighted the success of the collaboration between both parties in fostering the development of Nigerian seafarers.
Jamoh who was represented by the Agency’s Director Special Duties, Isichei Osamgbi,noted that NIMASA appreciates NSML for their leadership and vision in partnering with NIMASA to support the development of seafarers and promotion of our local content onboard their vessels. According to him “It is worthy of note that a good number of NSDP Officers trained onboard NSML vessels are now employed by the company. Today, we are proud to announce that 150 Romanian-trained NSDP cadets have concluded their mandatory onboard sea training and are ready to proceed for the Certificate of Competency (CoC) training and examinations. The signing of this Training Agreement between both parties resulting in the commencement of CoC for the first batch of Romanian trained cadets, will go a long way in ensuring that all backlogs of cadets awaiting CoCs are cleared”.
The NIMASA DG further urged other organizations in the industry to take a cue from NSML and give opportunities to aspiring Nigerian seafarers to acquire knowledge and gain experiences to excel in the field.
The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, while speaking at the ceremony charged the lucky Cadets to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria.
According to Dr. Ajani who was represented by Mrs. Ekanem Saila, a Deputy Director from the Ministry noted that the collaboration between NIMASA and NSML was a welcome development as well as the outcome of discussions which have been on going for some time.
On his part, the Managing Director/CEO of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, said the organisation is sponsoring 50 of the cadets to the South Shield Marine School in the UK for a 12 month programme to get their certificates of competency which will enable the cadets to work on vessels globally.
He said this is aimed at addressing the dearth of Nigerian seafarers on ocean going vessels and the need to meet indigenous manning requirements in Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage). According to him, “our support here is really in coordinating and ensuring we actually support these cadets back to back because the goal is to ensure they come out with good Certificates of Competency and to ensure they have a career in the global shipping marine sector,”
Ahmed also noted that, with the emerging transition in the shipping and maritime industry, such as in energy and decarbonisation, which requires bringing in new technologies, it is important that seafarers continue to upgrade their skills and get trained in new technologies.
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