President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, has visited the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
WMU is a Sweden-based postgraduate university founded by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Nigeria has the highest number of government-sponsored students at the WMU.
The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, who received Doumbia-Henry and her team at the NPA headquarters in Lagos, reiterated the Authority’s resolve to leverage its relationship with the global institute to develop talents.
“We have been tapping the knowledge of our employees who are alumni of the World Maritime University in the implementation of our ongoing efforts at deepening efficiency in our operations by getting them to cascade skills and competencies gained to organisational advantage. For instance, the Ballast Water Management desk we established is headed by an alumnus of the WMU,” Bello-Koko said.
The NPA Managing Director commended the WMU for supporting the Authority under the Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPs) project, which is a crucial part of the University President’s itinerary whilst in the country.
“Our relentless efforts at improving channel security in the eastern ports which are achieving results evidenced by growth in cargo throughput at Onne port and vessel calls in Calabar port have benefitted from the insights of the WeCAPS team, and our doors remain open to more ideas and partnership that will enable us optimise those strategic national assets,” he said.
At NIMASA, the WMU President commended the agency for its policy on inclusiveness and gender equality.
“We here at the World Maritime University have had a long, mutually, beneficial relationship with Nigeria and NIMASA in particular. Our visit is to further strengthen the ties between ourselves while exploring areas of future collaboration.
“I also wish to especially congratulate Dr. Jamoh for the gender inclusive nature of the agency especially under his leadership. We have observed that in the number of female officers of the agency that are sent to the WMU for maritime studies,” she said.
Responding, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said, “Our continued relationship with the World Maritime University is informed by the agency’s commitment to professionalism, research and development as well as striving to attain global best practices in carrying out our responsibilities. This informs our choice of WMU when sending some of our staff to the institution for further training. We have a deliberate policy in line with the International Maritime Organisation to encourage more female participation in maritime.”
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