Dr Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary-General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) says regional collaboration will help to unlock great opportunities in the maritime sector.
Adalikwu made the call in Oron, Akwa Ibom, on Monday during a regional exchange visit to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN)
The theme of the four-day exchange visit is: “Advancing Maritime Education and Training Across West and Central Africa”
Adalikwu stated that the maritime sector remained the backbone of West and Central African economies, and that it should be harnessed for the development of the regions.
He reiterated MOWCA‘s commitment to bridging the gaps in maritime human capital through collaboration among training institutions.
He further said that the exchange visit initiative marked a decisive shift toward coordinated maritime capacity development in the regions.
“More than 90 per cent of our trade is carried by sea, yet our capacity to fully harness the benefits of this vast domain depends largely on the quality of human capital that we develop.
“MOWCA remains firmly committed to supporting initiatives that enhance maritime capacity and institutional collaboration across our member states,” he said.
Adalikwu said that emerging challenges in the sector such as digital transformation, decarbonisation and maritime insecurity required unified response among maritime institutions.
“No single institution can effectively address these challenges in isolation, strong collaboration is required,” he said.
Earlier, the Acting Rector, MAN, Dr Kevin Okonna, described the exchange visit as a “well-intended strategic milestone”
Okonna said that the exchange visit provided a platform that directly linked maritime education and training institutions under MOWCA.
He said that the academy was already advancing partnerships within the region and beyond.
The MAN helmsman expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to harmonised curricula that would align with international standards.
“It will lead to enhanced faculty, student exchanges, and improved maritime certification systems across the sub-region,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Kehinde Akinola, the Chairman, MAN Governing Council, said that the academy remained fully committed to supporting initiatives that would promote excellence in maritime training.
Akinola noted that through sustained collaboration, the region would collectively overcome the challenges, and unlock the vast potential in the maritime sector.
“I am particularly pleased that this conference and state visits will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning,” he said.
