May 05, (THEWILL) —
MOWCA Seeks Harmonised Maritime Training At Nigeria-Led Regional Exchange
Udeme Utip, Uyo
The Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr Paul Adalikwu, on Monday, called for the harmonisation of maritime education and training standards across the region as Nigeria hosted an inaugural exchange of maritime institutions.
Adalikwu made the call while declaring open the four-day exchange programme at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
The event, themed “Advancing Maritime Education and Training Across West and Central Africa”, has drawn participation from key maritime training institutions in the sub-region, including the Académie Régionale des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer (ARSTM), Côte d’Ivoire, and the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Ghana.
In his address, Adalikwu described the initiative as a step toward coordinated maritime capacity development, noting that more than 90 percent of trade in West and Central Africa is conducted by sea.
He highlighted challenges such as digital transformation, decarbonisation, maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea, and evolving global certification standards, stressing the need for a unified regional response.
He said harmonised curricula, joint certification programmes, and stronger academic and research collaboration among institutions were critical to addressing these challenges.
Adalikwu added that the initiative aligns with regional priorities, including boosting intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and developing a skilled maritime workforce.
In his welcome address, the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Dr Kevin Okonna, described the exchange as a first-of-its-kind platform linking maritime training institutions under MOWCA.
He said the academy is strengthening partnerships within the region, including a near-completed Memorandum of Understanding with the Regional Maritime University, Ghana, and ongoing collaboration with Liberian maritime institutions in partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Okonna expressed optimism that the engagement would lead to harmonised curricula aligned with international standards, as well as enhanced faculty and student exchanges.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Richard Akinola, said the conference comes at a critical time, noting that stronger institutional collaboration is necessary to meet evolving global standards.
Also speaking, a representative of the Director-General of ARSTM, Commander Olivier Combes, said the initiative would deepen cooperation in maritime safety, energy transition, and professional training.
The workshop, scheduled to end on May 8, is expected to produce frameworks for collaboration and long-term partnerships among participating institutions.
A commemorative plaque marking the inaugural exchange programme was also unveiled at the Rector’s office of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
