Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The federal government has called for improved knowledge and research in the maritime industry, to grow and expand human capacity development in marine logistics and transportation studies.
The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, made the call during the commissioning of the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, built by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Sambo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Magdalene Ajani, harped on the need for competency in the maritime sector, and expressed optimism that the Centre would help students to develop the required maritime skills to compete foreign counterparts in line with best global practice.
He also assured the University of Port Harcourt that the Ministry will equip the Centre with state-of-the-art learning facilities to ensure that maritime students enjoy an all-encompassing maritime experience.
“This project is the first of the six institute of maritime studies that NIMASA is building in each of the geopolitical zones.
“NIMASA has displayed for the whole world that the agency is socially responsible organization, playing its part in poverty alleviation through the develop ment targeted at human capacity development.
“This institute will serve as a place for competence development in maritime sector, thereby help in g students develop their skills and also compete with foreign counterparts in line with global best practices.”
Similarly, the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, said provision of the structure was one of the agency’s cooperate social responsibility in improving maritime study and research in the region.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Professor Owunari Georgewill appealed to the Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA to equip the facility, as the university lacks the financial resources to do it.
The Minister also went on to Commission NIMASA Eastern Zonal Office in Port Harcourt as well as the Search and Rescue Clinic, which will provide topnotch medical services to seafarers in the region.
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