December 20, (THEWILL) — The Nigerian maritime industry recorded a major boost as NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd (NSML) selected 21 Nigerian cadets for overseas sea-time training, while Nigerian ship owners committed more than 60 sea-time slots to cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.
The development comes amid renewed collaboration between industry operators and maritime training institutions to address Nigeria’s and the global shipping industry’s shortage of certified seafarers.
At an induction ceremony held on Friday, NSML announced that 13 cadets from MAN, Oron, and eight from the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Delta State, emerged from a national open screening exercise for overseas training leading to the Certificate of Competency (CoC).
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NSML, Mr Abdulkadir Ahmed, said the programme was part of the company’s response to the growing global deficit of skilled seafarers and the need to strengthen local capacity.
According to him, NSML is committed to domesticating international shipping skills and standards by developing Nigerian talent to support industry growth, economic advancement and global competitiveness.
He noted that the company’s Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE), which oversees the cadetship programme, has secured United Kingdom accreditation for four courses, including Human Element, Leadership and Management; Electronic Chart Display and Information System; Information Management System; and Basic Liquefied Gas Tanker Operations.
He added that plans were underway to upgrade the facility into an advanced maritime training centre for Africa.
The 21 cadets, 20 male and one female, were formally inducted in the presence of public and private sector maritime stakeholders, who urged them to uphold professionalism and represent Nigeria positively during their training abroad.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Nigerian Maritime University, Prof. Florence Oluwafemi, described the induction as a significant milestone for maritime education in Nigeria. She emphasised the need to integrate practical industry exposure with theoretical learning to support industrialisation and innovation.
The Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr Kevin Okonna, said the selection of MAN cadets reflected the institution’s improving global competitiveness and the academic performance of its students.
He disclosed that NSML conducted a detailed audit of the academy’s training facilities and equipment before finalising the selection process.
Dr Okonna also said the development marked the revival of a long-standing relationship between MAN and NSML dating back to the early 1990s, when many academy cadets completed their mandatory sea time through the company and later rose to senior officer positions on NLNG vessels.
He noted that Nigeria’s first indigenous captain of an NLNG vessel, Captain Yusuf Abubakar, is a former MAN cadet.
In addition to the NSML programme, Nigerian ship owners have recently offered over 60 sea-time training slots to MAN cadets, an industry gesture described as unprecedented.
Maritime stakeholders have welcomed the combined initiatives, describing them as a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s seafaring workforce and positioning the country for greater relevance in global shipping.
