March 09, (THEWILL) — Nigeria has taken a major step to strengthen its influence in the regional maritime sector as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, moves to establish a strategic partnership with Liberia’s maritime institutions to boost training, research and seafarer development across West and Central Africa.
The proposed collaboration between the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI), alongside the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), followed a five-day engagement held from February 23 to 27, 2026.
A statement by the academy stated that the partnership is expected to create opportunities for lecturer exchange, maritime training resource sharing, curriculum peer review and sea-time training for Nigerian cadets aboard Liberian-flagged vessels.
Endorsed by the Chairman of the academy’s Governing Council, Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, the statement noted that the move aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and position Nigeria as a hub for maritime education and operations in the sub-region.
It added that the engagement reflects the government’s commitment to advancing maritime education and global best practices under the policy direction of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“This visit underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing maritime education and international best practices in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda for the marine and blue economy sector”, Akinola said.
According to him, the proposed agreement will deepen cooperation among maritime institutions within the region and accelerate collective growth in the blue economy.
The Acting Rector of the academy, Kevin Okonna, said the partnership would open new pathways for knowledge exchange and practical training for cadets and maritime professionals.
He said the institution’s modern facilities, improved curriculum and skilled workforce have positioned it among the leading maritime training institutions globally.
Okonna also acknowledged Liberia’s strong position in the global maritime community, noting that the country operates one of the world’s largest merchant ship fleets and serves as a Category A member of the council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“This partnership reflects our shared vision to build a new generation of highly skilled and globally competitive seafarers through collaboration, innovation and capacity development”, he said.
Responding, the Deputy Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority, John F. Harvey, described the proposed collaboration as a significant step towards strengthening maritime education and professional development in the region.
He said the partnership between the two countries could serve as a model for broader regional cooperation in maritime training and capacity building.
According to the statement, the Nigerian delegation also toured the marine engineering training facilities of the Liberia Maritime Training Institute and witnessed a ceremonial parade by the institute’s cadets.
It added that the partnership initiative is expected to promote research collaboration, capacity development and cross-border knowledge transfer in maritime education across West and Central Africa.
