Seafarers Day 2024: Capt. Alao lauds Maritime institutions administrators for sustaining seafaring in Nigeria
...urges FG to provide enabling environment for shipping players
Segun Oladipupo
As the world commemorates the Seafarers day 2024, the President of National Association of Master Mariners, Captain Tajudeen Alao has congratulated Nigerian seafarers on the celebration of the seafarers day
The topnotch master mariner also appreciated the administrators who put institutions in place to sustain the profession in the country.
Lauding seafarers for keeping global trade running, he maintained that seafaring has evolved in the country through establishment of maritime training institutions that domesticated training of seafarers in Nigeria
According to him, seafaring institutions used to be abroad but establishing them in Nigeria had made it possible for younger generation of Nigerians to take the opportunity in the maritime
Captain Alao who called on the federal government to provide enabling environment for Shipping players to thrive, added that that with the coming into effect of African Continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA), shipping will thrive, opportunities will open up for more players to operate ships and there will jobs for Nigerian Seafarers
His words, “Let me congratulate all Maritime Nations on this Day of Seafarers
“Special Tribute to those few men, who made Seafaring a Career. And those Administrators who have put Institutions in place to make Seafaring sustainable
“The Seafarers have made a lot of sacrifice to keep global trade running. This is a great contribution towards continuing existence of mankind
“Pre-independence In Nigeria, Seafaring was a white man’s job. An elitist profession, because the Career offered our men the opportunity to travel round the world free of charge. A great adventure then
“Those pioneer men and officers who were discriminated against in service and training onboard persevered to pave ways for later day Seafarers.
All training institutions were abroad
“But today, Seafaring education has evolved. We have many Maritime Training Institutions in Nigeria offering easy access to our younger generation .
“The market is large but the Ships have to be there first for men to serve.:
“The Government must therefore provide enabling environment for Shipping players to thrive.
“With coming into effect of African Continental free trade area, shipping will thrive, opportunities will open up for more players to operate ships and there will jobs for Nigerian Seafarers.”
