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The Alumni Association of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO) has identified key areas for deeper collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), with both organisations reaffirming their commitment to advancing seafarer development and reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The alignment emerged during a courtesy visit by the AMANO leadership, led by its President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, to the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Maiguwa commended NIMASA’s deployment of its electronic platform for the issuance of Seafarers’ Certificates, describing it as a significant step towards improving efficiency, transparency and accessibility in the certification process for Nigerian seafarers.
He also acknowledged the Agency’s strategic partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), saying they have created additional opportunities for the training, certification and employment of Nigerian seafarers.
Maiguwa urged sustained collaboration in expanding the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), strengthening stakeholder participation in maritime policy formulation, ensuring effective implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), enhancing protection against seafarer abandonment, establishing a sustainable pension framework and improving welfare initiatives for Nigerian seafarers.
Responding, Mobereola reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to building an efficient, transparent and globally competitive maritime administration through sustained reforms and closer engagement with industry stakeholders.
“Our vision is to build a maritime administration that is efficient, transparent and globally competitive. We will continue to pursue reforms that strengthen regulatory oversight, promote innovation and expand opportunities for Nigerian seafarers in line with the policy direction of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy,” he said.
The NIMASA Director-General described the maritime sector as a strategic contributor to Nigeria’s economy, noting that professional associations such as AMANO remain important partners in developing policies and programmes that support sustainable industry growth.
The meeting also featured discussions on seafarer capacity development, implementation of international maritime instruments and strategies to deepen stakeholder participation in initiatives aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
