The Nigerian Sailor Development Program (NSDP) was established in 2008 as a national strategic initiative on human capital development for the maritime sector of the country’s economy. The program, which is under the leadership of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Agency (NIMASA), was born out of the need to harness the country’s opportunity to be a coastal nation and its endowment into a vibrant and energetic youth population and transform them into tangible economic benefits for the country and its people.

The objective is to invest massively in the training of young Nigerians aged 17 to 22 to acquire both theoretical and practical skills and practical knowledge in internationally recognized maritime institutions around the world in order to have access to ‘a rich pool of operators and officers. professional sailors, with the resulting economic benefits for the country.

The maritime sector is currently faced with the handicap of not having accredited institutions to offer training up to diploma level in nautical education and practical learning of maritime skills. The Nigerian Maritime Academy (MAN) in Oron has made tremendous progress over the years in training the level of manpower it was established to train. But the sad reality today is that the country cannot provide a Certificate of Competence (CoC) without limitations, which in turn restricts the career prospects of Nigerian cadets when presented to shipping companies. NIMASA will continue to provide its statutory support to MAN to ensure it breaks the jinx within the next 12-24 months. Only then, through obtaining proper accreditation, can there be strict adherence to the requirements of International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions and laws to produce seafarers, dockworkers and a skilled and experienced maritime workforce.

On Friday, October 29, 2021, another batch of 200 young people (NSDP THERRA) was sent for training to become sailors. This is a continuation of the performance of NIMASA’s role in capacity development, to fill the indigenous training gap to meet the mandate and provisions of the Cabotage Act which requires labor. Nigerian work on board ships that operate in the country’s coastal environment. .

The NSDP is NIMASA’s method of fulfilling Nigeria’s international obligations as a signatory to the IMO and International Labor Organization conventions, adopting the models of success that have been tried and tested in the Philippines and Singapore . The Philippines is renowned for being the maritime crew capital of the world, as more than 25 percent of sailors, sailors and seafarers in global shipping are Filipinos. Nigeria must strive to be the maritime capital of Africa.

It is estimated that around 280,000 students graduate each year from maritime institutions around the world. Our desire and goal should be to incorporate the NSDP products into this annual global figure, so that Nigeria is competitive in terms of crew and personnel. The country is expected to reap huge advantages in many areas by being globally competitive in these areas.

First, the growing army of unemployed and restless young people would be professionally trained and prepared to provide the capability that the shipping industry so badly needs. This would help to reduce the unemployment rate in the country, due to the availability of viable and sustainable employment prospects for skilled and globally skilled seafarers. Second, the country’s maritime industry would have a rich and diverse pool of well-trained and qualified seafarers on a global scale, equipped to participate in coastal and international shipping activities. Third, there is a promising prospect of having an alternative source of revenue for the federal government through obtaining foreign currency from funds repatriated by seafarers who would earn a salary in hard currency. It must be recognized that seafarers have the potential to have a significant impact on the country’s economy.

The latest NSDP youth group is being formed as part of the country’s repositioning efforts for the blue economy championed by NIMASA, which aims to diversify the national economy. In order to make this a reality, the training that students will receive would be slightly different from that obtained in the past.

Sea training will be an integral part of the program so that there is no waiting time. Students will learn during a period to be determined by the institutions, and will undertake trips ranging from three to six months before returning to school. This is different from the previous arrangement in which cadets were trained ashore and waited for the assignment and call to board the ships. It is part of the efforts to equip them to be able to contribute their share to the growth of the maritime sector in particular and the country’s economy in general.

In order to prepare for the expected opportunities of this program, NIMASA will endeavor to sign bilateral CoC mutual recognition agreements. The aim is to offer Nigerians opportunities to work outside the country. The agency works with industry experts to ensure Nigeria’s Maritime Education Training (MET) meets international standards.

• Dr Jamoh, Director General and CEO of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, writes exclusively for The Guardian