A firm; Prime Atlantic Safety Services (PASS) has unveiled its strategic entry into the maritime sector, signalling a groundbreaking venture into the realm of maritime industry training and capacity building.
This is even as maritime industry stakeholders inspected the frm’s state-of-the-art training facility for advancing skills development and capacity building in Nigeria’s maritime and oil and gas industry.
Speaking during an ‘Open Day’ visit to the Training facility in Ogun State on Wednesday, Deputy Managing Director of Prime Atlantic State Services, Mrs Folake Soyannwo emphasized the institution’s foray into the maritime domain as a significant step toward extending their expertise beyond the Oil and Gas sector.
Soyannwo highlighted PASS’s proficiency in offering specialized training and skills development tailored not only for the Oil and Gas industry, but now also for the maritime sector.
She noted that haven trained over 36,000 professionals from 2019 till date, PASS has extensive experience in delivering safety, water survival, technical, firefighting, crisis management training, equipment procurement, installation, maintenance, emergency response, and consultancy services.
Soyannwo also stressed the facility’s pivotal role in empowering individuals through comprehensive training and international certification. Emphasizing the significance of their world-class infrastructure and internationally recognized certifications, she underscored the global acceptance and industry demand for individuals trained at their centre.
The Deputy Managing Director of PASS emphasized the strategic importance of the facility’s location at in Ipara, Remo, North of Ogun State stating that it is to enable focused and dedicated training away from distractions from bustling cities to ensure undivided attention and commitment from participants.
“Prime Atlantic Safety Services, known for its excellence in capacity building, is now venturing into maritime training, aiming to equip individuals with the necessary skills and certifications essential for this pivotal industry.
“Prime Atlantic Safety Services itself handles capacity building and capability building .So we enable and empower individuals through training and skills development to be able to take on roles, not only in Nigeria but even outside of Nigeria because of the international certification that we offer.
“We also support business operations by understanding what the requirements are for their own operations and building bespoke training around that for those organizations” Soyannwo noted.
Speaking earlier in his welcome address, the Training Manager of PASS, Dr. Olugbenga Kuku emphasized the pivotal role of the maritime industry in global trade, citing its function in connecting nations and facilitating the movement of goods worldwide.
Elaborating on the diverse expertise available at Prime Atlantic Safety Services, Kuku highlighted the medical capabilities within their training portfolio. He emphasized the certifications possessed by their medical personnel, such as ATLS, VLS, and ACLS, signifying their ability to handle medical emergencies in any part of the world.
The training manager envisioned the potential expansion of their medical services, expressing the readiness to meet industry demands. He outlined the prospect of acquiring accreditation for medical clearance certificates tailored for Seafarers assuring their willingness to cater to industry needs and expectations.
Representing Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Chief Officer, Maritime Labour Service , Mrs Bola Akure reiterated her role in gathering insights and feedback from the event to present to the regulatory authority. She emphasized that decisions regarding potential advancements in the maritime sector, including potential certifications would be granted upon comprehensive inspections and evaluations.
Mrs. Akure assured attendees of a meticulous certification process, stressing that NIMASA’s endorsement would signify industry-wide recognition and authorization for any developments arising from the event.
“On behalf of the NIMASA, I am also here to take feedback back to the deciding authorities’. So it is based on what I have seen and the recommendations I’m giving to the authorities who would make that decision if the maritime sector will proceed to do that.
“However, I think inspections have been carried out here and further inspections will be done and based on that, before the agency will be striking that. So just have some level of patience when all of that is done. I’m sure like we do for all other ones. Once we give the authority or certification, then everybody in the industry will be aware and then they can go ahead and proceed with it” Akure said.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mrs Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike acknowledged the substantial private investment behind the impressive infrastructure despite its private ownership. She encouraged future collaborations between Prime Atlantic Safety Services and other organizations to address employment gaps.
Chimezie-Azubuike highlighted the potential for certified trainees, endorsed by regulatory bodies and the institution’s credibility to become valuable resources for industries seeking expertise. She suggested leveraging these variables beyond mere accreditation so as to allow organizations to rely on PASS’ expertise and recommendations to fostering a symbiotic relationship between trained professionals and industries seeking skilled personnel.
Present at the visit to the Facility were representatives of freight forwarding associations, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) as well as Chief Executive Officers of maritime businesses, maritime training institutions amongst others.
