By Aisha Cole
Lagos – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that the Seaman Discharge book used by seafarers is ready.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, said this on Thursday in Lagos.
According to the statement, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside mentioned this while addressing students of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) in Universitatea Maritime Din Constanta (the Maritime University Constanta) Romania.
Peterside said that no Nigerian seafarer or cadet would be denied the opportunity of going on board vessels on account of not possessing the document.
The director-general said that the students’ training cycle would be incomplete without sea time berth and on board training; hence the priority attention given to the production of the Discharge book.
Peterside advised the students to take their studies seriously.
The director-general said the country is investing heavily in training the cadets with the hope that they would fill the gap of dearth of maritime professionals in the country, become employable, as well as earn foreign exchange for Nigeria’’.
He told the students that NIMASA would do all required to ensure they get the best training that would give them a competitive edge in the global maritime industry.
Also speaking, Rep. Mohamed Bago, the Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, urged the students to make the necessary sacrifice today to secure their future and that of their families.
“At your time of strength and youth, do more than you are paid for today so that you can be paid more than you work for tomorrow,’’ The News agency of Nigeria (NAN quotes Bago as saying.
He said the only way the cadets could appreciate the sacrifice the country is making on their behalf is for them to come out with excellent grades.
In his comments, Sen. Ahmed Yerima, Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, urged the students to be true ambassadors of Nigeria and commit their time to the academic endeavor for which they were sent to Romania.
Sen. Yerima said many Nigerians were looking for the opportunity which the students were privileged to have, adding that the students should make the best use of the opportunities.
The NSDP students in Romania, expressed appreciation to the National Assembly delegation and the Management of NIMASA for the visit.
The students said this was the first time such a high-level delegation would be visiting them since the commencement of the NSDP programme five years ago.
He said that Nigerian students would continue to be of good conduct and would come out with excellent grades in their different fields of study.
