Gbajabiamila, Oyo-Ita Lead Stakeholders To Lagos For African Day Of Seas And Oceans

·        As Dakuku Rallies Continent For Greater Role In  Marine Biodiversity

 Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, will on Thursday in Lagos lead other stakeholders, including Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo- Ita, and key maritime industry players, to the opening of activities marking this year’s African Day of Seas and Oceans. The occasion meant to highlight the potential and opportunities in the continent’s vast maritime domain, is organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).  

  

The event in Nigeria, themed, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Marine Biodiversity for Accelerated Economic Growth,” echoes the African Union (AU) subject for the 2019 African Day of Seas and Oceans, “Enhancing Africa’s Role in a Globally Binding Instrument on Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.”

Ahead of the event, the host, Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who is also Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), emphasised the need to dismantle national boundaries that impede effective utilisation of Africa’s vast marine resources.

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Dakuku stated, “The importance of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction cannot be overemphasised, considering that Africa is greatly endowed with vast maritime resources and opportunities which must be harnessed for economic development and wealth creation.”

Dakuku further enphasised the essence of the event, while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Oladele Bamidele Jaji, in preparation for the African Day of Seas and Oceans.

Speaking on the vital role of the Nigerian Navy, the NIMASA DG said without effective security it will be impossible to reap the benefits of the marine environment. He identified shipwreck as a major challenge of the Nigerian marine environment. But Dakuku said NIMASA was partnering with the Hydrographic Survey Department of the Navy to isolate, chart and mark wrecks with the support of the Agency’s Intelligence Information System, which has the capacity to capture every area of the Nigerian maritime domain.

Besides Gbajabiamila, who is the Guest of Honour, and Oyo- Ita, who is Chairperson, dignitaries expected at the occasion holding at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, include Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, who is the Chief Host.

AU at its 22nd Ordinary Assembly declared 2015 to 2025 as the decade of African Seas and Oceans, and July 25 as African Day of Seas and Oceans.

TURNAROUND OF MARITIME, EL-RUFAI HAILS DAKUKU PETERSIDE

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has commended the efforts of the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to develop the maritime sector and increase its contribution to the economy.  El-Rufai said Dakuku’s appointment as Director-General of NIMASA was one of the most skillful and opportune decisions by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in its drive to revolutionise the maritime industry. He spoke at the weekend in a chat with journalists at the Kaduna State Government House.

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The governor said Dakuku had brought his wealth of experience and pragmatism to bear on the maritime sector, occasioning many reforms that have produced significant growth in the industry within a short period.

According to El-Rufai, “Dr. Dakuku is a vibrant young man who has brought a lot of reforms to the maritime industry. This is what you get when you appoint young and knowledgeable people and this appointment has brought a lot of gains to this administration.”

The governor said with the length of the Nigerian coastline, the country deserved more benefit from maritime. He added, “I know NIMASA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority, headed by my former Chief Of Staff, Hadiza Bala Usman, is doing a lot to decongest the Apapa ports and we are proud of what they are doing so far. But we must also look at ways of building new ports to decongest Apapa.”

El-Rufai also commended the Buhari administration’s first term Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, whom he said had revolutionised the entire transport sector under difficult circumstances. He said Kaduna State was one of the beneficiaries of Amaechi’s vision, as the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, whose completion the former Rivers State Governor ensured, was now one of the busiest rail lines in the country.

He stated, “I do not recall any Minister of Transportation that has achieved as much in so little time, under very difficult circumstances as Hon. Amaechi has done. Kaduna State is one of the beneficiaries of his effort, because the Abuja-Kaduna rail that started more than 10 years ago was completed under his tenure.

“It was a single-minded focus on completing projects of benefit to the country that enabled that, and today, that train connection is one of the busiest and most patronised in Nigeria. For the first time Nigerians are seeing the advantage of having a functional rail system and he was also very influential to the appointments of Hadiza Bala Usman and Dakuku  Peterside and the maritime sector is better for those strategic appointments.”

Dakuku was appointed as Director-General of NIMASA in March 2016. Under his watch, a lot of reforms have been initiated, including the strategic New Cabotage Compliance Strategy, which has created more employment for Nigerians in the maritime sector and significantly grown the maritime sector’s contribution to both the Federation Account and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

NIMASA TOPS CHART IN PORT, FLAG STATE CONTROL

Feat Attributed to Consistency in Reforms, Availability of Enforcement Vessels

In the continued pursuit of its mission of staying ahead of the game in maritime administration, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has topped the chart on Port and Flag State Control in the West and Central Africa Sub-Region. NIMASA outranked other maritime regulators in the region in the inspection of vessels calling at Nigeria’s ports, according to the latest report by the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control for West and Central Africa Region, otherwise known as Abuja MoU. Abuja MoU is the apex regional treaty on port control.

Speaking on the feat, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said it was part of the fruits of recent reforms initiated by the Agency and deliberate investment in enforcement equipment. “In NIMASA, we are conscious of global best practices and determined to rid our waterways of all substandard vessels, with the ultimate aim of ensuring a safe and robust maritime domain. This will afford us the capacity to be a competitive player in the global maritime space, giving us an edge in the comity of maritime investment destinations, ”Dakuku said.  

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The Abuja MoU, led by the Secretary-General, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, stated in the report that Nigeria dominated in detailed inspection of vessels, with 13 exercises out of the total 14 carried out in the continent in 2018. The report commended the country’s enforcement drive.

It showed a significant rise in recorded deficiencies across the continent, as 727 vessel deficiencies were recorded in 2018 as against 587 in 2017. This was attributed to increased enforcement exercises across the various regions, with Nigeria in the lead with 339 deficiencies. 

Usoro said an analysis of the MoU’s performance between 2010 and 2018 indicated an unbroken incremental improvement by member-nations’ administrations of the MoU in every aspect of Port State Control (PSC). She said this evidenced commitment by member-states to rid their waters of substandard ships, improve the standard of welfare of shipboard officers and crew, and stem the pollution of the region’s waters.

Dakuku pointed out that the excellent record posted by Nigeria was the result of recent transformational initiatives introduced by NIMASA, Abuja MoU’s administrator in Nigeria, and the availability of vessels for officers to carry out their enforcement duties.

While assuring the shipping community of the maximum support of NIMASA, Dakuku stated, “We will remain unwavering in our commitment to safety and innovation in line with global best standards, despite the challenges.

“The Agency has no intention of taking anyone out of business; rather we are here to assist ship operators by creating a conducive environment.”

He emphasised that the Agency will not fail to clamp down on erring operators “to safeguard the country’s maritime environment for the good of all.”

Following the international requirement for countries to inspect at least 15% of foreign vessels entering their domain, NIMASA inspected and surveyed over 600 vessels calling at Nigerian ports, an unprecedented feat showing the country is alive to its port state and flag state responsibilities. The increased inspection and survey has ensured that substandard vessels no longer call at Nigerian ports. It has improved safety on Nigerian waters and led to a reduction of vessels with deficiency from 18.99 % in 2015 to barely 14 % in 2018.

NIMASA has since the last three years engaged in deliberate efforts to protect the country’s maritime assets and environment by building up response capability under the deep blue sea project. The Agency has acquired special mission aircraft, special mission telecommunications gadgets, and 17 interceptor special mission vessels. It has also, in conjunction with the country’s security services, set up a Command and Control Centre, with a complement of armoured vehicles to patrol littoral states, and a standing military force to deal with criminal activities at sea.

The Abuja MoU on State Control was signed at a Ministerial Conference held in Abuja by 16 West and Central African States on October 22, 1999. The meeting was organised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and hosted by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abuja MoU is the legal document under which countries of the region agreed to develop and implement a common mechanism for the respective port state control activities. The main work of the Abuja MoU is the harmonisation of the port state control procedure and practices of all the countries in the region. This is to eliminate the operation of substandard shipping within the region in order to ensure maritime safety, security, protection of the marine environment from pollution, and improvement in the working and living conditions of ship crew, as well as facilitate regional cooperation and exchange of information among member-states. 

Signatories to the MoU are Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau, The Gambia, and Togo.   

MARITIME SAFETY: PRESIDENT BUHARI ASSENTS TO ANTI-PIRACY BILL

·        Nigeria First in W/Central Africa to Satisfy International Requirement on Piracy Law

·        Act Will Deter Maritime Criminalities, Boost Blue Economy – Dakuku

President Muhammadu Buhari has given his assent to the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill, 2019, in an unprecedented move billed to bring a dramatic improvement in security on the country’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. The Presidential assent dated June 24, 2019 followed the passage of the bill by the Senate and House of Representatives on April 9, 2019 and April 30, 2019, respectively.

The bill passed by the Eighth National Assembly gives effect to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, and the International Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Navigation (SUA), 1988, and its Protocols.

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The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had facilitated the drafting of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill in 2012, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). It was in a bid to give further credence to the relevant international treaties of the United Nations (UN) and IMO ratified by Nigeria on maritime safety and security and provide a much-needed legal and institutional framework for the country – through its maritime security enforcement agencies: the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA – to ensure safe and secure shipping on Nigerian waters, and prosecute infractions.

Besides addressing maritime insecurity, the new law, very importantly, fulfills the international requirement for standalone legislation on piracy, as against the approach of using the Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Amendment Bill to criminalise piracy.

With the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Act, Nigeria has officially become the first country in the West and Central African Sub-Region to promulgate a separate law against piracy, an important international requirement set by the IMO as part of measures to guarantee secure global shipping.

Speaking after the Presidential assent, the Director-General of NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, described the move as a step in the right direction, saying, “It marks the dawn of a great moment for world maritime.”  

Dakuku said, “This is not just a victory for NIMASA, but also for all the stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime community. We are determined to continue to deliver on our promise to investors and the international community to ensure an increasingly safer and more secure environment for profitable maritime business.

“And the new law at this very critical stage of our Blue Economy drive is certainly an elixir that will boost our capacity to harness the rich potential of our seas and oceans.”  

The NIMASA DG thanked the President for “his commitment and passion for measures that will guarantee safety and security on Nigerian waters.” He also appreciated the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their support. Dakuku assured that the Agency will continue to work with relevant partners and organisations to achieve its aim of ridding the country’s waterways and exclusive economic zone of criminal activities.

“No man is an island; hence NIMASA cannot achieve much without the support of other stakeholders. This is the time we all need to work more closely together, so that we don’t give room to criminals to have their way in our maritime domain,” he added.

Some of the significant provisions of the Act include a distinct definition of piracy and other maritime offences/unlawful acts; punishment upon conviction for maritime crimes; restitution to owners of violated maritime assets or forfeiture of proceeds of maritime crime to the Federal Government; and establishment of a Piracy and Maritime Offences Fund with prescribed sources of funding that will be utilised in the implementation of the Act.  

The new law also vests exclusive jurisdiction for the determination of matters under the Act on the Federal High Court. It empowers relevant authorities mentioned under the Act to seize vessels or aircraft used for maritime crimes anywhere in Nigeria and in international waters or in the jurisdiction of any country where the ship is reasonably believed to be a pirate-controlled ship or aircraft.

Oil Drilling Operations: Court Order Will Create More Jobs – Dakuku

 Sees Boost in Maritime, Cabotage Benefits

·        Oil Rigs are Classified Vessels, Says Court Judgement

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has commended the judgement of the Federal High Court in the case involving Seadrill Mobile Unit Nigeria Limited and the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), which confirmed NIMASA’s right to collect fees from drilling operations. NIMASA was later joined as a necessary party in the suit originally instituted by Seadrill Mobile Unit Nigeria Limited against the FMOT.

Dakuku said the judgement was “yet another landmark attempt by the judiciary to set the record straight and boost implementation of our Cabotage law, while generating opportunities for jobs.”

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The suit instituted by Seadrill Mobile Unit Nigeria Limited was to determine whether drilling operations fell within the definitions of “Coastal Trade” and “Cabotage” under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, and whether on a proper interpretation of the Cabotage Act, drilling operations fell within the definition of “vessels” under the Act.

On the first issue, the court, presided by Justice Babs Keuwumi, ruled that drilling operations fell within the ambit of exploration, exploitation, or transportation of the mineral or non-living natural resources of Nigeria, whether in or under Nigerian waters, as provided under the definition of coastal trade in the Cabotage Act.

Similarly, the court held that the combined reading of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Act, Interpretation Act, and Cabotage Act meant that drilling rigs fell under the definition of vessel under the Cabotage Act.

Having determined the two questions in the affirmative, the court granted NIMASA leave to collect all outstanding payment of the 2% Cabotage surcharge from owners of drilling rigs and associated platforms.

The implication of the judgement is that oil rigs operating on Nigerian waters are subject to the provisions of the Cabotage Act.

Reacting to the judgement, Dakuku said it marked the opening of an important opportunity for job, incomes, and economic growth. He appealed to persons engaged in inland trade to pay their Cabotage fees and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to the enthronement of global best practices in the Nigerian maritime sector.

Dakuku said, “The Cabotage Act is very clear and it has again been interpreted and confirmed by the court. We expect that with this judgement, all parties will obey the court order and do the needful. It is all for the growth of the Nigerian maritime sector and the country’s economy at large.

“On our part, as a responsible Agency, we will continue to sensitise stakeholders, because every craft that is engaged in Coastal and Inland Trade must pay the Cabotage fees.”

The DG reiterated the determination of the Agency to end the Cabotage Waiver regime in the next five years. He said measures had been put in place by the Agency, in collaboration with stakeholders in the sector, to achieve a seamless waiver cessation.

Section 2(d) of the Cabotage Act provides that Coastal Trade or Cabotage means the engaging by vessel in any marine transportation activity of a commercial nature in Nigerian waters and the carriage of any goods or substances whether or not commercial nature within the waters of Nigeria.

NIMASA is the government Agency responsible for regulating and promoting shipping activities as enshrined in the NIMASA Act, 2007.

MARITIME: PRESIDENT WANTS MORE WOMEN PROFESSIONALS TO BOOST ECONOMY- AISHA BUHARI

·        Dakuku Calls on Men to Support Women Achieve Objective

·        Stakeholders Clamour for Gender Balance in Sector

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari, has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to provide platforms that will encourage more women’s participation in maritime to boost economic development. The President’s wife stated this on Tuesday in Lagos at an event to mark the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, with the theme, “On board with gender equality.”

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R-L: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; Wife of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Sabiu Zakari and NIMASA Board Chairman, General, Jonathan India Garba (Rtd.) during the 2019 celebration of the Day of the Seafarer held in Lagos.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chose the theme, which resonates with its theme for this year’s World Maritime Day, to highlight the contributions of women in the maritime industry and encourage more women to go into the profession of sea transportation.  

Dr. Buhari said there was need to promote gender balancing in the seafaring career, adding that the President is aware of the economic benefits that come with encouraging the female gender in the maritime sector.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, spoke in a similar vein, saying the men should support women, especially in maritime, “towards reaching their potential and navigating work place challenges.”  This was just as President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, applauded Nigeria’s effort to encourage more female professionals in the maritime industry.

Wife of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo in a photograph with seafarers during the 2019 celebration of the Day of the Seafarer held in Lagos.

The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, commended NIMASA’s efforts to promote and encourage women in the maritime sector. She noted that such was in line with the President’s aspirations for the sector.  

According to her, “Under the current leadership of NIMASA, we have seen significant strides aimed at making women active players in the blue economy industry. Mr. President is desirous of seeing more women play active role in the maritime industry. This celebration focusing on women seafarers is, therefore, apt.” 

She called on “all government agencies, especially those in the maritime sector, to ensure the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5, which is aimed at attaining gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”

The NIMASA DG, speaking further, called on men to provide the needed support for women to participate actively in the maritime sector. “We hope to sensitise the industry operators and players on the significance as well as economic importance of bridging gender inequality and the need for men to support women towards reaching their potential and navigating workplace challenges For us to have more women at sea and onshore, the men have a major role to play in terms of providing the needed support.”

He further added that the Agency will continue to pursue policies and programmes that will accelerate gender equality and empowerment of women in the maritime sector. “In addition to the 304 female cadets we have trained in seafaring since the inception of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), greater attention will now be given to the training of female seafarers in specialised courses and areas to enable them take up professional responsibilities in specialised vessels and offshore operations, and maritime sector generally,” Dakuku said.

On the New Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) that suspends waivers on Cabotage manning, Dakuku disclosed that placement of women on board vessels will be given high priority, with greater attention also given to providing an enabling environment for female seafarers. He disclosed that the Agency had already recorded success through the NCCS initiative with about 7,000 Nigerians employed by ship-owners between 2018 and the first quarter of 2019. He said the Agency was doing everything in its powers to resolve the issue of armed robbery and piracy at sea. 

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, said the Federal Government had initiated policy reviews aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women in the maritime sector, and creating conducive work environment for them in line with the SDGs.

The WMU President, in his goodwill message to Nigeria on the occasion of the Day of Seafarers, said, “Nigeria is one of our long-standing partners that has provided funds for our fellowships and we want to encourage them to continue. Under the MoU with NIMASA, as well as the support provided by the Nigerian Ports Authority, today, we have 199 WMU alumni from Nigeria, of which 31 are women. About half of these Nigerian female graduates were funded by the government. The rest received funding from other sources and other WMU partners.”

The event was attended by many stakeholders, including Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Alhaji Hassan Bello; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman, who was represented by NPA’s Executive Director, Marine and Operations, Dr. Sokonte Davies; Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore Duja Effedua; Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Danjuma Dauda; and renowned maritime lawyer, Mr. Emeka Akabogu.  

Prominent Nigerian women in maritime also graced the occasion. They included Director-General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NSC), Mrs. Obiageli Obi, and Chairperson, Nigerian Shipownwers Forum, Mrs. Margret Orakwusi, all of who called for more support for the female gender in the maritime career.

In attendance also were members of the NIMASA Governing Board, led by the Chairman, Gen. Jonathan India Garba, and members of the Executive Management.

The Day of the Seafarer is celebrated all over the world on June 25 every year following the resolution adopted by the 2010 diplomatic conference in Manila, Philippines, in line with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) adopted “On Board with Gender Equality” as the main campaign theme to celebrate the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, which echoes IMO’s theme for the 2019 World Maritime Day, and coincides with the disposition of NIMASA as a gender-sensitive organisation.

It is expected that throughout 2019 there should be a strong emphasis in the maritime space on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks, a campaign driven and targeted at empowering women in the maritime community with the hope of having a strong and far-reaching resonance.

WOMEN FULCRUM OF MOST SUCCESSFUL WORLD ECONOMIES – NIMASA DG

·        Maritime Community Awaits Aisha Buhari

·        Agency Sensitises the Girl Child on Career in Maritime

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that women are central to the accomplishments and efficiency of most successful world economies. Dakuku stated this on Monday in Lagos at a sensitisation workshop for female students organised preparatory to this year’s Day of the Seafarer, an international event coming up on June 25.  He urged the girl child to develop career interest in the maritime sector.

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, will be leading other dignitaries and stakeholders in the maritime community to campaign and encourage more female participation in seafaring and maritime trade at the event scheduled for Tuesday in Lagos.

DG. NIMASA

Dakuku said NIMASA will intensify efforts to encourage ladies, particularly the girl child, to take advantage of the vast opportunities in the maritime industry.

The DG, who was represented by the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, emphasised the need to put proper structures in place in order to have a strong maritime sector, and a robust economy. He noted that the sensitisation of the girl child on career in maritime was an intervention programme of the Agency, stressing that “On Board with Gender Equality”, which is the theme for the 2019 Day of the Seafarer, coincides with the disposition of NIMASA as a gender-sensitive organisation.

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“It may look tough, but it is not insurmountable. The challenges are enormous, but it is our hope that the proactive, pragmatic and deliberate actions as well as the programmes of the Agency will yield positive result in the long run. We are ready and we will continue to align with global best practices in the management and running of the Nigerian maritime sector. Women are critical and we will work and encourage them,” the DG said. 

Dakuku observed that the problem of unemployment in the country could be tackled through the development of the maritime sector and NIMASA would work with relevant institutions and instruments of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to make the industry attractive, especially for women.

According to him, “To achieve our objective of ensuring a holistic and sustained participation of women in Nigerian maritime affairs, sensitising the girl child is important and making the industry attractive is also important.  As an Agency, we are prepared to support and partner relevant agents of development in Nigeria, including schools, which is the underlying motive of this sensitisation.

The DG reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to ensuring better working conditions for seafarers in line with the International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Agenda. He assured that the Agency will continue to give issues concerning seafarers, particularly women seafarers, top priority.

Inspirational career talks were delivered at the event by some women practitioners in the Nigerian maritime industry, including Miss Iwu Augustina Ogechukwu Sandra (Navigator), Mrs. Adebimpe Oluwadamilola (Chief Engineer), Miss Karen Ogidigben, and Miss Pauline Adula (Marine Engineer). They spoke on the benefits of female participation in the industry as well as the challenges.

Female students from many schools, including Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos, Victoria Island Girls Secondary Grammar School, Queens College, Yaba, Kuraimo Junior Secondary School, and New Era Girls Secondary School, were in attendance..

NIMASA has over the past few years embarked on the training and retraining of Nigerian seafarers and cadets in specialised maritime courses, both locally and internationally, with the aim of enhancing their competence and employability.

The Day of the Seafarer is an annual event marked globally following the resolution adopted by the 2010 diplomatic conference in Manila, Philippines, to adopt the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).