•As Nigeria, Ethiopia rekindle bilateral ties

In spite of earlier alleged stiff opposition from the Minister of Transport, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) at the weekend declared, it is now working closely with other Government Agencies, to ensure the commencement of full academic activities, at the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU) come next session.

The NIMASA Director General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside who confirmed this during this year’s Day of the Seafarers celebration; also stated that the mandate of the University include bridging the gap in human capacity in the maritime sector, with special emphasis on seafarers, which is now perceived to be in high demand, nationally and globally.

“Learning is a continuous process, when we stop learning the sector cannot grow, and by extension the entire country. More so, the country is diversifying its resources and we need trained and competent personnel to man the different sectors of the economy. In this regard, in NIMASA there is a rebirth of focusing on our core mandate of which capacity development is topmost in order to realize a virile maritime sector. We therefore remain committed to the ideals of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Federal Government of making Nigeria a pride in the comity of nations”, the DG said, restating that capacity building remains NIMASA’s focal mandate.


Speaking on the theme: “Seafarers Matter” Dakuku specifically mentioned that continuous capacity building would be required in order to ensure the sustainable growth and development of the maritime sector and the country as a whole.

He urged seafarers to remain patriotic in the delivery of their services to their Fatherland and assured them that NIMASA would continue to collaborate with shipowners and relevant Stakeholders in the sector to ensure that their interest is protected.


Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, and his Ethiopian counterpart, Dr Workneh Gebe, during the bilateral meeting in Addis Abba.
“We are proud of you and be rest assured that we will ensure that your interest is protected; in the light of these, we will also ensure that all international instruments pertaining to your welfare are fully implemented,” Dr. Dakuku assured.

The agency, so far, between 2008 and now has facilitated the training of 2,259 young Nigerians in various fields of maritime studies in reputable Maritime Institutions in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania, India and the Philippines.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was earlier indicated to be stiffly opposed to the continuity of the NMU, Okerenkoko. Government allegedly cave in after the Niger Delta youths became unstoppable in pipelines vandalization, in spite of the pronounced presence of tools of coercion.

In the meantime, Nigeria and Ethiopia have rekindled their bilateral ties and have resolved to further work toward ensuring mutual progress and prosperity for both countries.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this to newsmen at the end of a bilateral meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart, Dr Workneh Gebe.

He spoke on the sidelines of the 31st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the 29th AU Summit in Addis Asaba.

The minister said there was need for the two countries to continue to support each other and share experience on managing ethnic diversity.

Onyeama said areas of discourse between the two countries included cooperation in defence, politics, economy as well as consular and multilateral matters.

The minister solicited the support and cooperation of Ethiopia as Nigeria assumed the position of the Chairman of the AU Peace and Security Council on Saturday.

Nigeria and Ethiopia have long-standing relations even before Nigeria became independent in October, 1960.

Ethiopia opened its embassy in Lagos in 1961 and both countries have common interests in the consolidation of their bilateral relations.

The two most populous countries in Africa with a combined population of well over 200 million are multi-ethnic and multi-religious.

Nigeria and Ethiopia signed an agreement in June 2000 to provide teachers for various universities and high schools in Ethiopia.

Since then, Ethiopia had been the leading beneficiary of Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps teachers, an excellent example of South/South relations.

Source: https://www.maritimefirstnewspaper.com/2017/07/03/okerenkoko-university-nimasa-begins-work-for-full-resumption/

Weldone ma'am. Will need your guidance and tuteladge on a step I want to make about seafarers course I want to emback on.
I want to take basic safety training course with Elkins Marine but a captain in the field told me that with that, I can get a job that I have to go a bit further.
Ma'am, what do U advice me to do or advice you will give to me.

God bless.

Warm Regards.