MD NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA has said that the current management is determined to collaborate with relevant agencies and stakeholders across all sectors of the nation’s economy in its bid to effectively harness the vast potential in the shipping industry.

Managing Director of the organisation, Hadiza Bala Usman, who made this pledge, also said the authority is willing to enter into partnerships, especially in the area of human capital development and utilisation with a view to impacting positively on the nation’s economy particularly, at a time the Federal Government is making efforts at ensuring socio-economic growth.

This, according to her would enable the country take its pride of place among comity of maritime nations.

The MD, who was represented by the Executive Director in charge of Engineering and Technical Services of the organisation, Prof. Idris Abubakar, during a working visit of a delegation from the College of Engineering, led by the of Dean of the college, Professor .E.A. Ajav

She said: “NPA is willing to support the group’s laudable programmes through the corporate sponsorship of its forthcoming International Engineering Competition amongst Universities across the country. This is aimed at boosting the intellectual development of interns in all fields of engineering. The Engineering profession is a discipline that serves as the bedrock of a nation’s development and efforts should be geared at maximising the potential at all times’’.

“Therefore, the current management of NPA would be willing to collaborate and exhibit a smooth synergy with institutions in the area of manpower development regularly. To this effect, a window would soon be created through which the top echelon of the Organisation’s Engineers would share experiences and expertise acquired over the years through this”,

The NPA-boss said she is of the view that this would go a long way towards bridging the gap between the tertiary institutions and the industry at large.

Meanwhile, leader of the delegation told the stakeholders the team was at the NPA headquarters to appreciate the organisation’s support and resolve on capacity development over time through sponsorship and collaboration.

On the issue of the upcoming programme for engineering interns across the Nigerian Universities, the chairman stated that the first edition, which held in 2016 was quite a success in terms of the positive impact on the student’s performances.

He affirmed that this has further propelled the body to organise this year’s edition of the event, while working tirelessly towards its sustainability.

It was gathered that the 2017 edition would herald three best students from each zone who would then proceed for the final event to determine the best university in the country. The breakdown cuts across higher institutions in all the geo political locations of the country.

Other top management staff of NPA on ground to receive the delegation include: General Managers Engrs. Jatto .A. Adams, Maintenance, Peter Obinomen Capital projects and Mohammed .A. Rufai Physical Planning and Development while on the side of the Engineers were Professors O.B. Oloche, Treasurer and Mohammed .S. Public Relations Officer of the group.