The Chief Executive Officer of Starz Maritime and Engineering Limited, Dr. Greg Ogbeifun, and the Rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Prof. Abiodun Falodun have met with key stakeholders in the Nigerian Maritime Industry to facilitate the commencement of the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology, (GOMIT) domiciled in Edo State Polytechnic Usen.
Engr. Ogbeifun, recognized as the nation’s foremost shipping mogul alongside with Prof. Abiodun Falodun and their partners, paid an official visit to the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and the Agency management.
Deliberating with NIMASA Director General, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun highlighted the need for a comprehensive training of Nigerians, particularly relevant trainings that create opportunities for professionalism and enhanced competence. He noted that the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology, (GOMIT) domiciled in Edo State Polytechnic Usen, is the first of its kind in any tertiary institution in Nigeria and it is designed to bridge the capacity gap in the maritime industry by providing bespoke vocational education to students who will receive training at the polytechnic and industry-partner companies and will be highly sought after in the maritime industry.
He specifically sought for the creation of an enabling environment, saying this is necessary to make Nigerians hit the peak.
In his remarks, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, the Rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen told the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, that the Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki, is committed to the provision of quality education at the state-owned institution of higher learning.
He noted that both the Governor and the School Community is appreciative of the initiative of the Greg Ogbeifun Institute of Maritime Technology and are committed to ensure the objectives of institute is met so that it can meet up with its obligations to the larger society.
Responding, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh emphasized the Agency’s Commitment to the pursuit of capacity domestication, in a bid to save Nigeria, the scarce foreign exchange.
Dr Jamoh agreed on the need for comprehensive training of young Nigerians particularly at home, adding that NIMASA is already working on adopting a reciprocity policy for Recognition of Certificate of Competency and other Certificates to facilitate international trade.
The NIMASA boss urged the management of (the GOMIT) Institute to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with reputable international learning Institutes to ensure that the quality of education meets internationally acceptable standards, explaining further that as a new Maritime Institute, the gaps identified by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the latest IMSAS report should be given priority and addressed.
Prof. Abiodun Falodun and his team also visited the Seaport Terminal operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), requesting for collaboration especially in the aspect of drafting captains of the industries to deliver dual location training for the institute, adding that the institution is ready to roll out the training programmes.