The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO) to deepen human capacity development and enhance maritime labour administration in Nigeria.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described investment in human capital as central to the agency’s vision of building a resilient maritime sector capable of meeting evolving global demands.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Turin, Italy, Mobereola who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chudi Offodile said the partnership aligns with NIMASA’s strategic focus on structured capacity development for maritime professionals.
“This partnership responds directly to our objective of strengthening capacity through targeted and structured programmes. It also allows us to leverage the ITC-ILO’s global expertise to enhance the training of maritime labour inspectors, policymakers, and trainers, particularly in the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended”, he said.
He added that the collaboration would translate into measurable improvements in maritime labour administration and support the development of a sector that is globally competitive, professionally driven, and anchored on the principles of decent work.
Also speaking, the Director of ITC-ILO, Mr. Christopher Perrin, expressed appreciation for the collaboration and assured that the Centre would deploy its technical expertise and resources to support Nigeria’s drive for sustainable human capacity development.
The agreement is the culmination of a series of engagements between both organisations, with key contributions from NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Jibril Abba, and ITC-ILO’s Head of Training, Mr. Giuseppe Zefola. The process also benefited from the guidance of the ILO Regional Adviser and Technical Expert on Maritime Labour, Dr. Amos Kuje.
The partnership is expected to enhance institutional capacity within NIMASA and contribute significantly to the growth and development of Nigeria’s maritime industry through improved training, knowledge transfer, and global best practices.