The Maritime Advisory Committee for the establishment of a maritime academy in the Yaba College of Technology last week assured that plans are still in progress to ensure that the project comes on stream soon.
The project which is a joint effort between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Yaba College of Technology and which is also getting ample support from the United States of America consulate is designed to meet the demand for more qualified and trained seafarers in the maritime sector.
At the advisory committee’s inaugural meeting which held last week with the new rector of the school, Mrs Kudi Ladipo members of the board assured the rector that the committee has not been resting on its oars and that it is working hard to ensure that the maritime school takes off soon.
Speaking at the meeting, the project consultant for the School, Captain Abiodun Omoteso assured the new rector that the project has gone far and that it is also enjoying the support of the private sector.
“We have come a long way and the idea of coming today is just to update you; a lot of things have been put in place that will facilitate the take off of this school; student -wise there is no problem, also the private sector has expressed that they are looking forward to the project”, he stated.
According to him, in order to facilitate the project, arrangements have been put in place to bring in experts from the United States, specifically a Professor Dennis Compton of the US Merchant Marine Academy on a three -day working visit to Nigeria in the middle of April.
The US expert is expected to survey the proposed site for the construction of the maritime school as well as conduct meetings with the College authorities as well as major stakeholders in the maritime industry.
Capt. Omoteso explained that “we have drawn up a programme to utilize the gentleman coming from US to the maximum to get the best out of him, luckily enough the US consulate is organizing a get together where they will invite the end users and other oil companies who are not members of this board to have a real rapport with them so they can see the seriousness of this project”.
Speaking earlier in her opening address, the new rector, Mrs. Kudi Ladipo who said that upon assumption of office she has been meeting with various stakeholders with regards to the project assured the board of her commitment to the project saying that: “I thank you for all your contributions so far and the support that you gave to my predecessor, I want to assure you that this project is equally dear to my heart and I am committed to seeing it through”.
Also speaking at the occasion, former president, National Association of Master Mariners, Captain Niyi Adeyemo who represented the chairman of the board, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, harped on the need for more maritime training schools in Nigeria, saying that there are not enough seafarers and that not a single Nigerian is manning a crude oil tanker at present.
Lamenting, he said: “today we do not have any successor because the whole issue of training has been bastardised and thrown in the dungeon, we have not had visionary leaders who will know that the main steel of any nation’s economy is the maritime sector”.
He however commended the rector for the enthusiasm and support she has shown towards the project saying that she has been a source of inspiration to the board.
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