To flag-off its new programme of fishing out fake mariners, the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has presented membership certificates and identity cards to the two pioneer presidents of the association; Captain Dennis Osah and Captain Augustine Olugbode.
According to the association, the event which held last weekend at it’s secretariat in Lagos is aimed at checking the activities of fake Master Mariners and foreigners who ply their trade in the country without clearance and registration with the association.
Speaking at the event, the President of NAMM, Capt. Tajudeen Alao stated that the purpose of the exercise was for members of the association to have identity and respect as well as to eliminate fake Master Mariners parading themselves as genuine ones in the society.
Alao described the two former Presidents of the association as the pioneers who suffered untold hardship in the hands of the white men who subjected them to dehumanizing conditions in order to discourage them from attaining the position of Master Mariners.
He observed that for the steadfastness and doggedness brought on the job by the pioneers Presidents, they would have chickened out of the profession as they too meet the same condition on ground during their time, even as he described them as mentors.
The NAMM President disclosed that the elderly ones among them would soon be honoured with certificates and identity card adding that very soon, those who were not cleared and registered by the association including foreigners would not be allowed to operate in Nigeria, even as regretted that a lot of people from Holland who were dredger Master would come to Nigeria and government would hold them in high esteem.
Responding, the first President of the association, Capt. Dennis Osah appreciated the incumbent President for taking the bold step to issue them with certificates of membership as well as identity cards, saying that the certificates and the identity cards were long overdue.
He said,” When we founded the association in 1984, I did not know that it will take so long for us to have this certificate and ID card, but we thank God that we can now see the dynamism that Capt. Alao has brought to bear on the affairs of the association which has been done”.
On his part, the second President of the association and one of the recipients, Capt. Augustine Olugbode who will soon mark his 80th birthday anniversary noted that the event would go down in history as according to him,” this association has a lot to do for the progress of the country generally in terms of human development, in terms of facilities and installations. We look back and at times, we that were able to start not the association, the maritime profession, we know who we are, where we have gone to”.
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