From left: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR; outgoing Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo; Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli CFR; and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani during a courtesy visit to the Emir as part of activities to mark the commissioning of some NIMASA projects in Kaduna State, on Saturday May 27, 2023.

Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, has commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, over its human capacity development initiatives with a view to boosting job creation, reduce unemployment and curb crimes in the country.

The Minister spoke Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the official commissioning of an Ultra-Modern Skill Acquisition Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State, developed in line with its robust Corporate Social Responsibility CSR policy. The centre has facilities such as Electrical, mechanical, sewing, technical, and welding learning facilities amongst others for youths and women. He was accompanied by the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli and Members of the Zazzau Emirate Council.

The Minister, who also lauded the agency for the several other projects it has delivered in the last few years, noted that the establishment of a skill acquisition was centre was significant and unique and would further enhance human capacity development for Nigerians

“The significance of what we are doing today to build human capacity for various sectors of our economy can never be over-emphasized because as a government, we have to be responsible for creating an enabling environment that will encourage our students in their journey towards learning and achieving the required skills which will eventually add value to our national development.

“Once again as an agency of the government, NIMASA has displayed to Nigerians and indeed the whole world that it is a socially responsible organization and that the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led Federal Government to tackle poverty through human capacity development remains unwavering.

“More importantly, the skill acquisition centre does not only serve as a place of learning, but it also further strengthens our resolve for eliminating and eradicating the out-of-school children that the Federal Government continues to settle, and I assure you, this centre would have a direct positive effect on the Federal Government’s drive to reduce and ultimately eliminate the current challenge of out-of-schoolchildren.”

“Furthermore, the best and most important aspect of learning is through practical experience and the set-up of this skill acquisition centre will be all-encompassing with a great learning experience that would ensure every student that passes through this centre becomes a master of a specialized art that would add to our economic growth.

“I would not end this presentation without commending President Muhammadu Buhari who has continuously ensured that the Federal Ministry of Transportation receives all the support that would ensure we make the needed changes to bring positive impact in the lives of Nigerians; an example of this is what we are witnessing today.

“I must commend the unwavering support of our royal father, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, for his fatherly role and ensuring the entire Zazzau Emirates key into this project. May Allah Bless you, sir the Minister said while presenting a keynote address.

Meanwhile, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, while speaking at the event, noted that the NIMASA skill acquisition centre is one of the centres located across the six geo-political zones of the country. He also disclosed that higher institutions in all geo political zones of the country are benefitting from the agency under its CSR projects.

Jamoh said: “Our desire as an agency is to ensure young Nigerians acquire skills to make them self-dependent thus productively engaged. We are also developing such centres in Niger, Lagos, Anambra, Gombe, Bayelsa and Rivers States. This is also aimed at fighting insecurity on land which will have a multiplier effect on security in the maritime domain.”

The outgoing Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, CON who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, pledged the commitment of Kaduna State Government to education and thanked NIMASA for completing the project in record time.

The Emir in his remark thanked the Federal Government for such a laudable project and appreciated the DG NIMASA for remembering home.

Recall that under the leadership of Dr. Jamoh, NIMASA has continued to maintain focus in ensuring the Nigerian maritime sector takes its rightful place in the comity of maritime nations. Only recently, the agency commissioned five enforcement boats, four staff ferries and an ultramodern world class Search and Rescue Based Clinic, in addition to the commissioning of a permanent building, housing the agency’s Abuja office.