Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General, NIMASA

Sea time is a compulsory requirement for cadets in maritime Academies and universities all over the world. It remains a critical evaluation criteria leading to the award of Certificate of Competency, CoC, without which, working on board vessels is illegal by IMO standards.

After years of efforts by public and private sector operators to provide sea time for Nigerian seafarers which have glaringly been inadequate, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside has assured graduating cadets of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP, that the Agency has concluded arrangements to provide them with the necessary sea time experience that will lead to the issuance to them of their Certificates of Competency, CoC.

Receiving 100 cadets of the NSDP scheme who have successfully completed their respective maritime courses from the University of Perpetual Help, Philippines, Dakuku congratulated them for concluding their studies and returning home without cases of misconduct. He also assured them that modalities have been put in place to ensure that they get the necessary sea time experience that will crown them as complete seafarers.

Addressing the NSDP Cadets Dr. Dakuku said “I must commend you all for being good ambassadors of Nigeria by not involving yourselves in any untoward act while in the Philippines. As a responsible Agency, we will complete what we started by making sure that you all get the required sea time that will make you professionals in your chosen career”.

Dr. Peterside reiterated the NIMASA’s commitment to grow human and infrastructural capacity for the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

A total of 100 cadets who graduated with degrees in Maritime Transport, Marine Engineering and Navigational Technology respectively from the University of Perpetual Help, Philippines returned to the country recently.