The President of the World Maritime University (WMU) Malmo, Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, last week paid a visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in a move apparently aimed as an outreach to Nigerian establishments sponsoring students to the global maritime training institution and collaborating on security training.
At the NPA, the Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, presented a plaque to Dr. Doumbia-Henry and commended the WMU over its support to the Authority under the Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) project.
According to him, “we have been tapping the knowledge of our employees who are alumni of the World Maritime University in the implementation of our ongoing efforts at deepening efficiency in our operations by getting them to cascade skills and competencies gained to organizational advantage. For instance, the Ballast Water Management Desk we established is headed by an alumnus of the WMU”.
He also commended the WMU for the support accorded the Authority under the Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) project, a crucial part of the University President’s itinerary whilst in the country.
“Our relentless efforts at improving channel security in the Eastern Ports which are achieving results evidenced by growth in cargo throughput at Onne Port and vessel calls in Calabar Port have benefitted from the insights of the WeCAPS team, and our doors remain open to more ideas and partnership that will enable us optimize those strategic national assets,” Bello Koko added.
Responding, Dr. Dr. Doumbia-Henry, the first female to occupy the university’s presidency, expressed delight at the number of the Authority’s employees who are alumni of the WMU and pledged her institution’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with the organization.
Gender Inclusiveness
At the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the WMU President commended the management for its policy on gender equality which have manifested in the number of women employed as well as their sponsorship for capacity development in-country and abroad, a press release signed by Edward Osagie revealed.
According to Dr. Doumbia-Henry, “We here at the World Maritime University have had a long, mutually, beneficial relationship with Nigeria and NIMASA in particular. Our visit is to further strengthen the ties between ourselves while exploring areas of future collaboration.
“I also wish to especially congratulate Dr. Jamoh for the gender inclusive nature of the Agency especially under his leadership. We have observed that in the number of female officers of the Agency that are sent to the WMU for maritime studies’.
On his part, the NIMASA DG, Dr Bashir Jamoh, attributed the longstanding relationship between both parties to the policy on professionalism, research and development.
He said that “Our continued relationship with the World Maritime University is informed by the Agency’s commitment to professionalism, research and development as well as striving to attain global best practices in carrying out our responsibilities. This informs our choice of WMU when sending some of our staff to the institution for further training. We have a deliberate policy in line with the International Maritime Organization to encourage more female participation in maritime.
“From this development, it is clear that NIMASA’s commitment to human capacity development of its staff remains unwavering. This in turn is bound to have a knock-on effect on the Nigerian maritime industry in that the level of professionalism would be improved upon”.
The WMU Malmö, Sweden, is a postgraduate maritime university founded within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations.