Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr Bashir Jamoh, over the weekend announced that timetable for the much-delayed Officer Of Watch (OOW) 2020 examinations will be released this week.
The NIMASA DG who acknowledged that the important examination could not hold in 2020 due to the ravaging COVID-19, confirmed in a tweet on Saturday that the examination timetable will be released this week, and that the examinations would follow shortly.
In the tweet, Dr Jamoh said: “Let me assure #OOW2020Set that they are not forgotten. We feel your pain and regret the inconvenience caused. #NCDC Guidelines & logistics on public gatherings now sorted. Exam dates out next week. Necessary arrangements finalized in line with NCDC requirements”.
He also advised those who are to write the examinations to “begin their revision.”
Apparently happy that the much-delayed examinations will soon start, many seafarers and stakeholders who had waited for almost one year for to write the were full of praises for the DG.
In a series of tweets which contained reactions for the good news about the examinations, the stakeholders commended the NIMASA DG.
One of them, @ObongUsanga wrote: “What a relief for those poor lads who’s already forgotten where they kept their books, I thank @JamohBashir for the swift response to savage the situation. I want to use this medium you request for a review of the marking scheme that makes 85% of the OOW candidates to fail and come back for resit exam, some end up spending more than 3yrs before they get their license. Because of delay in releasing the results and making arrangements for resit exams. Other countries of the world, seafarers write their resit after less than 3weeks”.
Another tweeter @OmeakuGlory responded: “We are sincerely grateful for the swift response to savage the situation”.
Yet another, who identified himself as Mr Capable says: “Thanks sir, we look forward to next week, with the hope that you will keep to your word as a honorable person”.
Another stakeholder; Emmanuel Maiguwa tweeted: “Thank you our dear DG @JamohBashir for paying attention. We look forward to next week for a date. Will continue supporting your responsive administration to address the many issues affecting the Nigerian Seafarers that have lingered for so long”.
“I must express my gratitude for your concern; and every role the alumni of our prestigious alma mater played to end this saga. Gracias”, says @Alwaysavictor18, also in response to the news of the OOW 2020 examinations.
Another stakeholder; Abdulazeez muktar@Azeezmuktar1 expressed excitement about the new date for the examinations. He tweeted, in response to Dr Jamoh’s tweet. He wrote: “Wow that’s credible NIMASA have been tremendous since you became the DG. More wins and great success ahead”.
Another tweeter, @EmmanitexOkon, who is obviously a seafarer, also expressed happiness about the development. He wrote, “For your swift response, we say a big thanks. We also seek your swift response to halt the delay in the release of the Examination result and license”.
