The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, has charged the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) to expand its collaboration and improve process of its duties, in order to eradicate sea blindness and boost the blue economy.
The CNS gave the charge on Wednesday afternoon at the unveiling of the remodeled IMION administrative block and auditorium in Apapa, Lagos.
Ogalla, who commended the institute for recording major strides in its one year of existence, challenged the management to ensure that the vision of President Bola Tinubu to eradicate poverty by harnessing the resources of the blue economy was actualised through the provision of requisite knowledge.
He said, “We must seek collaboration, seek knowledge and look for better ways of performing and doing exactly what this institute was designed to do. I am confident that you have the required capacity and that this institute will continue to grow from strength to strength.
“What we are doing today is just the first step in terms of providing an enabling environment for you to work. We are going into other areas like the digital library, to make this institute truly the centre of excellence in Africa concerning maritime sector education.
“Like you all know, the objective of this institution is first and foremost to eradicate the issue of sea blindness, which has been one of the critical issues affecting the growth of the sector.
“So it is not only that we’re having infrastructure, but we’re also promoting a knowledge-based institution and trying to build a culture of enhancing all the expertise within the sector for the overall benefit of this great country.
“Of course you know that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces recognizes the fact that for us to be able to exit the poverty domain, there is need for greater harnessing of the resources of the blue economy and the first step towards this is knowledge because you cannot harness the resources where you don’t know.
“I think this institute is designed to do that, and you are already doing that. Our senior officers and all other staff of this institute, I wish to let you know that history will hold you as one of the pioneer staff of this institute. The success of this institute and how it will be held in future depends on the effort and the sacrifice that you put in today…”
In his welcome remarks, IMION’s Director General, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia (Rtd.), said the unveiling of the remodeled facilities marked a significant milestone in the institute’s journey towards excellence in maritime education and strategic capacity building.
As a strategic initiative of the Navy established on 1 June 2024, Udofia said IMION’s mandate is to serve as a think- tank dedicated to advancing maritime and ocean governance, maritime security, law enforcement, hydrography, and the blue economy.
“We are committed to fostering excellence through research, innovation, and strategic collaborations…
“The remodeled administrative block and auditorium will significantly enhance our operational capabilities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and serving as a hub for high-level policy dialogue and maritime education,’ he added.
Credit: The Nation
