Their story is as touching as it is revealing. It is a follow up on our scoop of December 15 to December 21, 2008 (Volume 2, Number 7) about the fate of scores of Nigerian youths who were lured to Ukraine with offers of seatime and permanent placement on ocean liners. The story, headlined “SHAME: Nigerian Cadets Deported From Ukraine” earned us a couple of threat messages mails and telephone calls. These two ladies (whose identities we have chosen to conceal for reasons of security) came to us in search of links that could translate to jobs on board a ship. This interview is published to serve three purposes – to bring the plight of young and prospective seafarers to the fore, to serve as a wake up call for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and most importantly, to facilitate their securing employment.
“WE SAW HELL IN UKRAINE, SPENT $3,200 AND N800, 000”
Can you do a brief introduction of yourself?
My name is (withheld). I attended Mercy Comprehensive High School, Ife Osun State, after my SSCE exams I came across African Maritime Academy in Lagos. I applied and did a two- year course in maritime business. In the course of the programme, our director of study told us that after our two years course in the school, we will go to Ukraine for one year practical and one year for language studies, he also told us that after these courses we are going to get a job in Ukraine, that’s for those who have finished their maritime training program.
How many years did you spend in African Maritime Academy?
Two years.
How many of you went to Ukraine?
We were about 20.
You left Nigeria for Ukraine to go and do what specifically?
We went there for practical on board vessel, after our two years programme, we had to go on board to complete the programme, but when it was time to go on board, they told us we can’t go on board unless we pay some more money which is about $4, 000, which we cannot afford.
How much did you pay in Nigeria for the Ukraine programme?
I paid about N700, 000 to process the travelling, but on getting to Ukraine, they said we can’t get any job because we don’t have any contract with the school, we agreed and we paid them another $3,200 on our own for the practical, but they still told us that we can’t go on board for any practical, that they can only issue us the certificates that we actually came to Ukraine for practical. We had no options since we were already there so we agreed that we were not going on board, later we went to meet the management to help us out one way or the other, that this is not how we planned it, they now agreed for us to go on board. By the time we concluded the arrangement, there was no time again, so they told us to wait till the coming year. Personally, I think our time is running and I personally went to meet them, that I didn’t want to go on board again, since I had completed the one year programme, that on getting to Nigeria I will find a vessel for the six month programme, they agreed.
What is the name of the school in Ukraine?
Admiral Makarov University, it’s owned by the Ukrainian government.
What is the relationship between African Maritime Academy and the Ukrainian school?
They have a contract on bringing students from Nigeria to Ukraine. There are other schools in Ukraine too.
What is your experience like in Ukraine?
It was not easy, because naturally there was nothing there, there was no job, nothing, our parents use to send us money from Nigeria for us to buy things that we needed, and there was no one to help us other than our parents, it’s not a good place for one to work, you can’t even get work in Ukraine.
What type of training did you receive in Ukraine?
We did our STCW like first aid, PSSR, life boats, dangerous cargo, tanker familiarisation and so on,
Do you have certificates in all these?
Yes, I have all the certificates.
When did you arrive in Nigeria?
I came back on December 25, 2009.
What have you been doing since you came back?
Nothing, I have been looking for a job
Do you sincerely believe that the training that you received in Ukraine is sufficient to get you a sea time?
Of course yes, I have already done the theoretical aspect here in Nigeria; I just went to the Ukraine for the practical, what am looking for is sea time.
Are there no maritime training institutions in Nigeria that can offer you what you went for in Ukraine?
Of course there are, but our director just decided to take us to Ukraine, he said it is the best place for us to get a job and all that, we had no option than to go along with him.
And you paid him as much as N700, 000 and N800, 000?
Yes.
You know want sea time, do you think that you already have enough exposure and training for it?
I actually want to go on board for the six month programme, after the six months, I will go to Ghana for my Certificate of Competency.
Why Ghana, is there no school in Nigeria that can offer you that training?
I really don’t think so, I am only sure of Ghana.
You think that Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron can not offer you that?
I have not been there, but I have been to Ghana. I went in2005; it was just a one month programme after which I came back to Nigeria.
2
Please, do a little introduction of yourself
I am (names withheld).I am from Ibadan in Oyo state, I went to Islamic primary school, from there I went to Lalupon Community Grammar School from JSS1 to JS3, from there, I gained admission into Ogbomosho School of Science, when I finished from there, I went to African Maritime Academy.
What kind of courses were you exposed to at African Maritime Academy?
I did a lot of courses like: ship tracking, dangerous cargo, business administration and so on.
In specific, what course did you study?
I studied shipping management
How did you get to know about the school?
I actually got to know about African Maritime Academy when a friend of my dad introduced the forms to me, I did the entrance exams and that was how I got in and I spent two years there. After my two years programme, the director of studies said we were going to Ukraine for our practical and that after this we are going to work there. He promised that we would not have any problems with feeding, accommodation or how to take care of ourselves. It is meant to be just a year programme because over there, they don’t speak English and so we had to spend one year to study their language, after this they told us that we were to pay another $4,000 for the practical aspect. Of course our parents could not afford the extra cost, after this everybody went on their different ways and I went to Nicolaev Centre for my one year practical.
You mean that you spent the first year learning how to speak Russian language?
Yes, It was the best option we had, because, hey don’t speak English, they will be communicating with you but you will not be able to respond to what they are saying, but we coped.
Were you able to go onboard a vessel during your three years in Ukraine?
We started with the theoretical aspect in the class, later they said we should go on board and that we will pay some more money before we could stay and be working; even though they will not be paying us any salary or feeding us. So we decided not to go along with them, but we later saw it as a way of gaining experience on what is being done on board a ship and so we all resolved to pay the money. They later came to tell us that they could give foreigners the chance to go onboard their vessel and that blacks could not be allowed to work with them. So, we decided to come back to Nigeria to complete our six months programme in order to get our COC.
Do you see yourself as capable of working on a ship?
Yes, because during our programme in Ukraine, we did go on board towing vessels to the high seas to bring in vessels that cannot get to the jetty, so there is nothing special on board that I can’t do.
Since you came back to Nigeria, have you gone back to your former school, at least to see your director of studies and ask questions?
No, no, no!
Why?
I don’t see any reason why I should go there; we have already left the place.
What type of ships can you work on?
I can work on any type of ship, tankers, bulk cargo vessels, and so on.
What was your experience like in Ukraine?
A lot of experiences. First, as a lady you can’t go anywhere than to stay at home, I mean you can not even stroll freely on the streets. Of course, the place is very cold. All you do is, just attend classes and read.
Altogether, how much did the training programme cost you?
First, we paid about N800, 000 for travelling expenses; on getting to Ukraine, we paid another $3,200 for practical, they said we should pay the money three times, so we made the first and second payments but we refused to make the third payment, because they did not allow us to go aboard any vessel. So, we used the money to come back to Nigeria.
Since you came back, have you gone to see your parents?
Yes, I have gone to see them.
How did they feel, having spent so much money to send you to Ukraine?
There is nothing they can do, they are happy to see me back and on the other hand they won’t be too happy because there is no job for me.
In all these, do you have any regret going to Ukraine?
Yes and no. First of all, when you want to go there, you will be happy that you are travelling out of Nigeria; to have experience on board a ship and you will be working over there too. But on getting there, you will get the second side of it which will not make you happy, there is nothing we can do about it than to obtain the certificate and come back to Nigeria. Now, I am looking for a job to work on board a vessel just as a cadet officer for now in order to get my Certificate of Competence, after this, I will now become a full officer.
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