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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled an ambitious youth-focused strategy aimed at positioning young Nigerians as the driving force behind the country’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda, declaring that the nation’s quest to emerge as Africa’s Blue Giant will depend largely on the next generation of maritime professionals and innovators.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made this known in a keynote address delivered at the 10th Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime (TAAM) Lecture held at the University of Lagos, where he outlined a series of initiatives designed to equip Nigerian youths with the skills, knowledge and opportunities required to unlock the vast potential of the blue economy.
Represented by the Agency’s Director of Reforms Coordination and Blue Economy, Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, Mobereola commended SIFAX Group for sustaining the annual lecture over the past decade, describing the platform as a vital bridge between academia and the maritime industry.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda remains a cornerstone of the Federal Government’s economic diversification strategy, adding that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has directed NIMASA to prioritise investments in youth development as a catalyst for sustainable growth in the sector.
According to the NIMASA boss, the Agency is implementing several strategic programmes targeted at building a globally competitive maritime workforce. These include the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), the newly introduced Blue Economy Accelerator Initiative, skills acquisition centres across the six geopolitical zones and the establishment of Institutes of Maritime Studies in selected Nigerian universities.
He noted that the initiatives are expected to expand employment opportunities, strengthen technical capacity and stimulate innovation, while preparing young Nigerians to take advantage of emerging opportunities within the global maritime industry.
As part of activities at the lecture, NIMASA also held an interactive knowledge-sharing session with master’s and doctoral students of the University of Lagos.
The engagement, led by the Agency’s Director of Cabotage Services, Ms. Gloria Anyasodo, featured presentations on shipping development, maritime logistics, Cabotage implementation and maritime labour regulation.
Participants explored current trends and policy issues shaping the maritime sector, with discussions highlighting the need for stronger collaboration between universities and industry stakeholders to promote research, develop practical solutions and produce the skilled manpower required to drive Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations.
