CSR: Tetra foundation sponsors ten cadets to Greece maritime academy
...foundation assures cadets of seatime training after graduation
By Segun Oladipupo
Tetra Foundation, a subsidiary of Tetra Maritime Solution on Thursday, unilaterally sponsored ten Nigerian cadets to Greece to study maritime courses.
The initiative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The ten successful cadets drawn from School of Oceanography and Fisheries are to gain more experience at the Metropolitan College , Maritime Academy in Athens, Greece.
Addressing the beneficiaries before their departure on Thursday in Lagos, Executive Director, Security and Safety, Tetra Maritime Solution, Rear Admiral Patrick Ozojiofor (Rtd), appealed to the cadets to inculcate exhibit discipline during their stay in the school.
Ozojiofor noted that a total of 113 students were shortlisted for the exercise before the final list of 10. He further described the beneficiaries as the best among the lots after diligent screening.
According to him, the Chairman of the company is already in Greece to receive the cadets urging them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and the foundation during their studies oversea.
Speaking further, the company ED said that the training would offer the cadets the opportunity to compete at the global stage and to make them marketable at the international scene.
His words, “We are trying to contribute our quota to maritime development. We decided to take up this set of young ones and make them useful to themselves and to the Industry.
“I congratulate and pray for you all and we can only hope that you guys will not disappoint. You all are lucky people.
He lamented that about 8,000 cadets under NIMASA National Seafarers’Development Programme project are yet to gain meaningful job placement onboard ships since graduation but added that the lucky 10 under the foundation project will be different as fleets of vessel are already available for them to sail on.
He also disclosed that the company would further scout for more talents from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State adding that the school of Oceanography was considered first due to the proximity.
Families and members of the seafaring union present took turn to advice and pray for the cadets, even as they urged the company to prioritize the cadets welfare.
According to the President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) Comrade Bob Yousou, he enjoined the cadets to count themselves lucky for the being selected even as he admonished them to be good representatives of the organisation.
He quipped that the union would continue to make case for the cadets whenever there is the need.
Yousou who was represented by the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC ) affiliate group, Comrade John Okpono Aleakhue, harped on career progression for the cadets calling on the company to allow them showcase their talents.
While urging them to be good ambassadors, Yousou called on the cadets to work hard and be diligent in their quest for academic excellence.
He further described the project by Tetra Maritime Solution as laudable saying that capacity building for cadets should be a continuous exercise.
