Mkpoikana Udoma 17 February 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – A ship building company, Stars Marine and Engineering Limited, and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council of Rivers State are partnering to give career counselling on maritime-related issues to youths in the area.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Chief Greg Ogbeifun, announced this when the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the local government, Mr. Isaac Ibiberebupakabo, visited the company at Onne/Ikpokiri Wharf, Rivers State.
Ogbeifun, who is also the president of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria said a programme, with the theme, “Catch them young” has been worked out to counsel youths on specific areas of maritime business, including ship building, marine welding and ship repairs, adding that the exercise would help them focus their destiny on maritime-related activities.
He noted that with the counselling, some youths could be captains of ships rather than being deckans, stressing that after the pep-talk, the participants would be taken on excursion to the company to see things for themselves.
The chief executive officer also noted that the counselling would expose the youths and build their interest to attend the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa Ibom State to train as maritime professionals.
Calling on the local government council to encourage such career, he said: “We are excited to partner with the local government in order to create relationship and rapport.
“The maritime sector is a very lucrative industry; we will ensure to the mental development of these youths in the maritime sector. If you look very well, you will see that not too many Rivers people are into maritime business, so we want to encourage the young minds through the programme to take up a career in the maritime industry.
“We commend the council boss for his visit to our office and we believe that this partnership is a step in the right direction”.
Earlier, the Caretaker Committee Chairman said they were in the company’s office to ascertain how the company and the council could assist each other.
Ibiberebupakabo appealed to the management of the company to make its impact felt in the local government as one of their guest companies, adding that as the chief security officer of the local government, he is assuring companies operating within the council of safe environment a for business and cordial working relationship.
