By Stephen Ubanna
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under the close watch of Dayo Mobereola, appears to have followed the foot step of Barshir Jamoh, the immediate past Director General of the maritime regulatory agency to enter into partnership, on capacity development, with the World Maritime University, WMU, Malmo, Sweden.
The NIMASA, Director General may have taken the bold initiative to renew the agency Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the WMU, because of his philosophy in life ‘’that there is no substitute to education’’ as he believes that the collaboration with the Malmo, in Sweden based WMU, would advance the country’s maritime interest, particular, now that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, has established a separate ministry of marine and blue economy, to oversee the country’s maritime industry.
Mobereola, the NIMASA, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, who could not hide his feelings had said that the four-year old, MOU, which had renewed the agency strategic capacity development partnership with the Maritime University, ‘’is aimed at strengthening the nation’s maritime capital and institutional capacity’’.
Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, in Malmo, Sweden, the NIMASA, CEO, who had described the MOU,’’ as a critical pillar in the nation’s’’ maritime regulatory agency’s human capital development framework and a strategic investment in Nigeria’s maritime future, had reportedly said that the collaboration would reshape Nigerian maritime industry.
He had alluded to the fact that the MOU, with the WMU, which was said to have been initiated by the previous Administration of Jamoh, and sustained by his own Administration, ‘’has strengthened the agency technical and regulatory capabilities over the years’’.
According to him, ‘’Officers trained at the Sweden based WMU, have enhanced the ministry of marine and blue economy, agency, ‘’effectiveness in maritime security and safety Administration, environmental compliance, maritime law, and shipping management.
He was said to have further stated that their expertise had reinforced Nigeria’s participation at the Internal Maritime Organisation, IMO, a United Nation, UN’s maritime agency, where the country is now a Council member, for the 2026/27, biennium, and other international maritime platforms.
Under the MOU, which was said to have been first signed in 2022, during Jamoh’s Administration, the agency will sponsor no fewer than 10 Officers annually for the 14- month ,the Master of Science programme at the WMU, in Malmo, Seden, for the 2026-2029, intakes, and an additional one Officer for the Master of Philosophy programme, that would be jointly delivered by the University and the International Maritime Law Institute., Malta, a small archipelago nation, in the southern Mediterranean Sea, and member nation of the European Union, EU.
Given an insider information of the details of the MOU, that had been signed by the two parties, Mobereola, the NIMASA, helmsman, had said that that it also provides for distance learning, executive professional development courses, research collaboration, and technical assistance to further strengthen the agency’s capacity in maritime security, safety, environmental management, seafarer certification and implementation of international maritime instruments.
He noted that it will further seek additional fellowships from international donors for qualified NIMASA, Candidates. The NIMASA, boss, who had led the agency delegation to Malmo, Sweden, for the signing of the MOU, on capacity development, was said to have signed the MOU, document on behalf the agency while Maximo Q.Mejia, Jr, a Professor and President of the WMU, had signed on behalf of the WMU.
Chudi Offodile, NIMASA, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, who had been privy to the first signing of the MOU, in 2022, during the Administration of Jamoh, and Peter Mariott, the Maritime University, Registrar, were said to have signed as witnesses.
Going down the memory lane, Osagie Edward, a Deputy Director and NIMASA, spokesperson, had said that the WMU, was established in 1983 by the IMO, with a mandate to strengthen global maritime capacity, particular, in developing member nations of the Organisation, including Nigeria.
He asserted that since the establishment of the international maritime tertiary institution in Sweden in 1983, it has become a leading centre of academic excellence in the world as Nigeria has benefited significantly through the training of the agency Staff, who had continued to use their knowledge gained to enhance the country’s maritime Administration and international management.
This is evident as NIMASA Officials who had passed through the Institution, and have had opportunity of meeting with their contemporaries from other developed maritime nations like the North American country of the United States, US, China, Italy, Liberia, Norway, United Kingdom, UK, India, Netherlands, Brazil, and Sweden, to discuss on technical maritime issues have exhibited their skills and competence.
Given that NIMASA, has sustained the capacity development partnership with the WMU, between 2022 and now, clearly shows that it is actually playing its leadership role in the Gulf rof Guinea region, as the agency works which includes anti-piracy operations extends beyond national boundaries and have significant effect on the entire West and Central African subregions, maritime nations, including Togo and the Central African country of Cameroun.
