Sunny Edemenang – Uyo
A shortfall of ninety six thousand Seafarers would be experienced in 2026, according to the concern expressed over the impending dearth of competent manpower in the maritime sector.
This was revealed by Capt Konni Duniya, a maritime expert, in a paper presented at the 2024 Lecture Series of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, titled: “Addressing Human and Institutional Capacity Development in Nigeria’s Maritime Sector Through Stakeholders’ Partnership”, pointing out that, “the maritime sector will suffer shortage of adequate and competent seafarers in the year 2026” due to war, retirement and disruptions in the sector.
Captain Duniya, an alumna of the premier maritime institution, lamented the discrimination against seafarers of Nigeria extraction by foreign countries, blaming it on fraudulent Certificate of Competency CoC, lack of database to validate cadet’s education, training and experience. Other reasons like non-compliance with STCW Convention of International Maritime Organization, sea time fraud all combine to limit employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers.
She made a clarion call
for training programs to be developed and implemented targeting training of maritime professionals, based on emerging trends and technologies.
“Nigerian seafarers are now forced to capitalize on the breakthroughs presented by COVID 19 and Ukraine war restrictions, to leverage on low paid jobs to get to the top”, a development she described as sad.
She used the opportunity to highlight the sophisticated training facilities in the institution under the watch of the Rector, Comdre. Duja Effedua and urged cadets to appreciate the academy for the rich curriculum and quality training with broader concept of education focusing on acquisition of knowledge, values and understanding to make them stand out among others in the maritime sector.
Earlier in the opening remarks, the Rector, Comdre. Duja Effedua reiterated importance of the lecture as part of academy programmes to revamp the maritime industry based on the vital role it plays in international trade and the nation’s economy.
The Rector who was speaking through the Coordinator of Specialized Sea Farers Education, Dr Kelvin Okonna, said that the lecture will build a body of knowledge and capacity to tackle the challenges of delays at ports, dearths of manpower vis-a-vis the prospect of Nigeria’s strategic location as a most populous nation.
Other topic treated on the opening day of the three-day event was “Smart Ports: Transforming Nigerian Ports with Technology – Enhancing Innovation For Efficiency and Growth by Emmanuel Maiguwa.
The lecture which took place at the Rt Hon. Chibuzor Rotimi Amaechi Auditorium, attracted a cross section of the management, staff and cadets of the Academy.
