The Rector of the Certified Institute of Shipping, Prof. Alex Okwuashi, has urged the Federal Government to accredit
some maritime institutions for post-graduate training.
some maritime institutions for post-graduate training.
Okwuashi, a Professor of Maritime Administration, made the plea in an interview in Lagos.
He said the institutions should urgently be accredited to meet the manpower needs of the maritime industry.
“I urge the Federal Government to accredit some maritime institutions so that they can train people at a higher
level to meet the manpower needs of the industry.
level to meet the manpower needs of the industry.
“As a matter of fact, I can say that there is a shortfall of manpower if it is measured by the industry requirement
for the next five years.
for the next five years.
“We may have manpower adequately trained in the management area but not in the area of technology and other
engineering areas,’’ Okwuashi said.
engineering areas,’’ Okwuashi said.
He said the new focus of the maritime industry to boost the nation’s economy required every necessary step to be
taken to meet international standards.
taken to meet international standards.
According to the rector, to attain such height in the nation’s maritime sector, there is need to have institutions
training students up to master’s degree.
training students up to master’s degree.
“At present, even the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, does not train students to attain international standards
in manpower development.
in manpower development.
“The training required should, however, be up to Master’s degree for Naval Architects, Engineers and other
technical areas,’’ the rector said.
technical areas,’’ the rector said.
Okwuashi said it would be a step ahead to have an institution like MAN, Oron, serving as a maritime college in
any of the newly-established maritime universities.
any of the newly-established maritime universities.
He said that such an initiative would enable the academy to be upgraded with facilities for manpower training to
international standards, better than what obtained in the institution at present.
international standards, better than what obtained in the institution at present.
Okwuashi said that because only the government and wealthy individuals could afford to pay for maritime training
abroad, it would be difficult to enlarge the size of manpower needed in the industry.
abroad, it would be difficult to enlarge the size of manpower needed in the industry.
The rector said it was important to develop local institutions offering maritime programmes to train as many people
as possible.
as possible.
