As part of activities to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA has visited Premier Academy School, Lugbe, in Abuja, the nation’s capital city. This is line with its desire to extend its  maritime capacity building mandate to the younger generations. 

The agency donated educational materials to the school as part of its robust Corporate Social Responsibility CSR.

Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, while speaking at the event, reiterated the agency’s commitment to capacity building in the maritime industry and beyond, saying secondary schools in the country are a good place to begin the awareness. Jamoh urged the students, especially those in the sciences, to show interest in the maritime industry by choosing maritime -related careers, especially given the increasing role of maritime in Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.

He said the current Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) regime has opened up many opportunities in maritime industry for indigenous investors and professionals.

The DG also announced the setting up of an endowment seat and scholarships for best students from the school who are willing to study maritime related courses in tertiary institutions. He said the agency was willing to train such students both in Nigeria and abroad.

“In pursuit of NIMASA’s mandate to build capacity in the maritime industry, it became necessary to let students know the careers in the sector. From time to time, we do visit schools and, as you are aware, we have a number of tertiary institutions in the six geo-political zones we are funding  maritime education.

“When it comes to capacity building, it is very important to have a very good foundation from secondary school before you go to tertiary institution”, Jamoh said.

According to him the Children’s Day celebrations presented a good opportunity to talk to students on the opportunities in the maritime industry.

He disclosed that the Federal Government has resolved to ensure safety and security in the country’s waters, saying: “We are trying to get it right through the Deep Blue project that will be launched soon by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We are now going out in full force to make sure we avert or stop this issue of maritime insecurity.”

He disclosed that there had been improvements in maritime security in the country since the deployment of assets under the Deep Blue Project began some months ago.

The items presented to the school included books, computers, and T-shirts.