The Ukrainian government has commenced moves to partner with the Nigeria government in the area of human resource development with a view to reducing the problem of unemployment of seafarers in Africa. To underscore this, its ambassador in Nigeria recently commissioned the Oyo (Oyo state) main campus of the African Maritime Academy, a privately owned maritime training institution.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the institutions director of studies, Muhammed Yusuf said that the educational relationship between both countries has been mutually beneficial, adding that the need consolidate the relationship cannot be over-emphasized.
Yusuf also said that the agreement the academy has with the Merchant Navy Training Board of Europe has seen more than 500 cadets and officers from Nigeria and parts of West African sub-region going to Ukraine for higher training in maritime education.
The fleet commander explained that the programme embarked upon by the academy has also enjoyed the approval of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), adding that the objective of the programme is to address the hydra headed unemployment problem in Africa with a view to training skilled personnel in the area of Nautical Science, Marine Engineering and Transport, Maritime Business and Port and shipping administration.
He disclosed that plans have reached advanced stage for the take- off of African Maritime University, which according to him will be the first of its kind in West Africa. It will be sited in Oyo, Oyo state, he disclosed, adding that necessary technical and logistic support are already being put in place for its smooth take off.
“Having kept the priority in specialist training for the MNTB Special Training Programme for Africa region, the academy has greatly broadened the spectrum of specialties which fully handle the regional/global needs”, he pointed out.
According to him, “traditionally, African Maritime Academy has wide and various links with many educational research institutions in many countries of the world.”The African Maritime Academy is licensed to train African youths that are privileged to participate in this programme in more than 24 countries across the globe”.
Also speaking at the commissioning, Ukrainian ambassador in Nigeria, Dr Oleg Skoropad who was represented by the Dr Timokhin Viacheslav, Ukraine’s representative to the United Nation on special programmes assured that his country will continue to support the academy and offer high quality maritime education to Nigerian cadets from the academy.
“My country’s relationship with your academy has come a long way, it is only proper that we take this relationship to greater heights”, he stated. “It is my hope to continue to see more Nigerian cadets from this academy in Ukraine for further studies in higher maritime education and possibly placement on board vessels in Ukraine”, he added.
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