Mrs Juliana Gunwa, Director, Maritime Labour Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday urged Nigerian youths to build career in shipping.
She said this in her closing remarks to the World Seafarers Day held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Gunwa, who was represented by Ms Ego Nwokocha, Deputy Director Maritime Labour Service of NIMASA, said such a career at sea would earn the youth a decent living like was the case in the Philippinos.
According to her, Philippinos are known to earn huge foreign exchange by exporting seafarers.
Mrs Juliana Gunwa, Director, Maritime Labour Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday urged Nigerian youths to build career in shipping.
She said this in her closing remarks to the World Seafarers Day held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Gunwa, who was represented by Ms Ego Nwokocha, Deputy Director Maritime Labour Service of NIMASA, said such a career at sea would earn the youth a decent living like was the case in the Philippinos.
According to her, Philippinos are known to earn huge foreign exchange by exporting seafarers.
“Seafaring could be a major foreign exchange earner of the country if all states of the federation and other maritime stakeholders key into the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) of NIMASA.
“This is by investing in our seafarers and reaping the benefits in the near future.
“As we celebrate today, let us not lose sight of the challenges ahead in terms of providing a good welfare package for the seafarers in line with the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006,’’ the director said.
She said that there should be provision for protecting seafarers’ lives from sea pirates and robbers.
Gunwa also urged maritime unions to join hands with NIMASA in promoting a decent work agenda, in line with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) policies and for the benefit of seafarers and their employers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IMO identified June 25 of each year as the “Day of the Seafarer’’,
This is based on IMO recognition of the invaluable contributions seafarers make to international trade and the world economy, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.
The Day of the Seafarer provides an opportunity to pay tribute to the world’s 1.5 million seafarers for their unique roles and contributions to the well-being of the society at large.
This Day is also an opportunity to educate the public about issues facing the modern day seafarer, such as piracy and criminalization.
The aim of the day is to recognise all the seafarers around the world; raise awareness of seafarers’ demanding working environment, challenges faced and sacrifices made; and raise awareness of seafarers’ contributions to the global economy.
The Day of the Seafarer was first celebrated in 2011.
This followed its establishment by a resolution adopted by the Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, held in Manila, Philippines, in June 2010.
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