.NIGER STATE GOV. TO TASK COLEAGUES ON SEAFRING 5
….Invites DG, NIMASA to educate Northern Govs.
Niger State governor, Dr Babangida Aliyuhas promised to challenge his northern state colleagues on the opportunities inherent in seafaring and the need to join in the on-going campaign to expand the nation’s seafarers’ population.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA0 has been on a nation- wide awareness campaign for seafarers; a campaign that has taken the agency to at least three geopolitical zones. The agency was in Minna, Niger state as part of the campaign for the north central zone
Governor Aliyu who is also the Chairman, of the Northern Governors forum told the gathering in the state capital that he would carry the campaign for increment of the seafarers’ base of the nation’s to the forthcoming Northern Governors forum.
Dr Aliyu who was full of commendation for NIMASA for the initiative acknowledged that there are so many opportunities for the unemployed in the maritime sector which is not known to youths in the country, especially those from the northern part of the nation.
The Governor commended the management of NIMASA for initiating the sensitisation programme which he explained is in line with the federal government seven point agenda as it relates to creation of employment.
He also extended an invitation to the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu, to attend the forthcoming meeting to enlighten them of the importance of seafaring profession and the benefits derivable from part-taking in it.
Babangida expressed anger at the continuos domination of seafaring profession in the country by foreigners even when there capable youths roaming the streets of the nation. He noted that at the end of the campaign, 25 candidates would be taken from each state to be trained as seafarers, stressing that in four years; the country would have about 5,000 young seafarers.
Speaking earlier, Dosunmu had noted that with the 40 percent of $15 billion being contributed to the economy of a country like Philippine through funds repatriated by the country’s seafarers annually, Nigeria has no excuse not to benefit from the sector.
According to him, “We believe that Nigeria with a population of over 140 million people and the vast potentials of our maritime sector can indeed become a major supplier of seafarers to the international community.”
“Given our perception of the strategic opportunities in the sector and the need for the realisation of Mr. President’s seven point agenda coupled with the current global shortage of seafarers, we are convinced that the time is right to push the seafarers development programme through Mr. President’s seven point agenda (which) seeks to promote national development through deliberate focus on key facets of the economy”, he stressed.
Discussion about this post