CONFRONTING FALSEHOODS: “We will not submit to blackmail”- Mobereola.
Oru Leonard
As NIMASA’s Unwavering Commitment to NSDP Beneficiaries, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has in a bold move to set the record straight, dispelled false claims surrounding the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).
Addressing the media recently, He said contrary to reports, NIMASA was not withdrawing beneficiaries from Centurion University in India, but rather conducting due diligence to enhance the program’s quality.
According to the DG, We are “not recalling any NSDP beneficiary from Centurion University. We are only working to close out all identified gaps in the existing Memorandum of Understanding before proceeding to the next stage. A situation where the Agency entered into a contractual agreement with Springdale Academy of Maritime Education and Training, SAMET with agreed courses and timelines only to be faced with additional course duration and an alien programme by the agent, SAMET, unilaterally converting the programme without the consent of the Agency as prescribed by the MoU may not be in the best interest of the students.
Speaking further, he said “There were issues of non-accreditation of one of institution as at the time of the execution of MoU, change of course from Marine engineering to Mechanical engineering without recourse to the Agency, preparing the grounds for additional years of studies and uncertainties for the students, raising issues related to funding, and the various third parties arrangements without duly informing the Agency.
“We are aware of orchestrated media campaigns and petitions against the Agency reviewing the existing arrangement. We will not give in to blackmail as the safety and wellbeing of our students are paramount”, The DG stated.
Dr. Mobereola emphasized NIMASA’s dedication to providing top-notch training for the 296 NSDP beneficiaries, ensuring they become globally employable seafarers. “We will not submit to blackmail,” he stated firmly, refuting allegations of program termination.
NIMASA’s commitment to capacity development and quality training remained unwavering. By aligning processes and strengthening partnerships, the agency aimed to empower Nigerian students to excel in the maritime industry worldwide.
The Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme was introduced in 2009 to develop capacity by training young Nigerians as seafarers and bridge the gap of dearth of seafarers globally. Nigerian youths are trained in specialized courses such as Marine Engineering, Nautical Sciences and Nautical Surveys amongst others, to ensure they qualify as Seafarers and are employable globally.
