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NIMASA Seamen Training Boosts Nigeria-Philippines’ Ties

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The Nigerian Maritime
Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expanded the scope of seafarers’ training in faraway Philippines, where more than 1,000 Nigerians are currently undergoing training.
The training is a component of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), an intervention programme designed to address the manpower requirements in the country’s maritime sector.
NIMASA has spent about N20 billion to train 2,500 seafarers under the programme from 2011 to 2015.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, confirmed the expenditure after the payment of the 2015 training fees of the cadets in various maritime institutions across the world.
He said that the amount included training fees, allowances, cost of laptops, books and other learning gadgets.
In 2009, NIMASA initiated the NSDP with the aim of developing human capacity and bridging the manpower gaps existing in the maritime industry.
The NSDP is a scholarship scheme, which is jointly funded by NIMASA and state governments in the ratio of 40 per cent to 60 per cent.
Recently, some NIMASA officials and journalists undertook a tour of three universities in the Philippines, which are handling the training of Nigerian cadets under the NSDP.
Observers are quick to point out that the Philippines is home to 28 per cent of the total population of seafarers in the world.
Mr Calistus Obi, NIMASA’s Executive Director, Marine Labour and Cabotage Service, who led the delegation to the Philippines, said that the training had boosted the bilateral relations existing between Nigeria and the Philippines.
At the Lyceum of Philippines University (LPU), Batangas City, 325 Nigerian cadets are undergoing maritime training, while 153 others are undergoing similar training at the University of Perpetual Help, Las Pinas City.
Besides, 350 Nigerians are currently receiving training in University of Cebu, Cebu City, also in Philippines.
Obi said that President Goodluck Jonathan had mandated NIMASA to continue with the NSDP.
He urged the students to be disciplined, adding that their commitments would determine government’s willingness to continue sponsoring the scheme.
Obi, however, said that Nigeria had started building a maritime university, the first of its kind in West Africa.
“We, the staff of NIMASA, are making sacrifices to ensure that you (cadets) continue to enjoy the benefits of the training.
“We have to cut foreign trips by staff as well as other expenses so as to ensure that you complete your training,” he said.
The executive director commended the management of the training institutions for also giving the students moral education.
Obi urged the students to exhibit good behaviour in all their endeavours so as to encourage the institutions to continue to partner with Nigeria.
He described the students as the “ambassadors” and the hope of Nigeria, reminding them, however, that “to whom much is given much is expected.
“President Goodluck Jonathan and the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, as well as the entire staff of NIMASA do not want anything short of success from these experiences.
“We have zero-tolerance for indiscipline and the purpose of this training is to enable you to excel and come back home to impart the knowledge to other students,” Obi said.
Speaking, Amb. Akinyemi Farounbi, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Philippines, said that there were many opportunities in the maritime sector for Nigerian youths to tap into.
He, however, noted that the performance of Nigerian cadets undergoing seafarers training had motivated the Government of Republic of Philippines to establish three universities in Nigeria.
Farounbi said: “We have seen NIMASA, not only as an instrument of training our youths in marine engineering, marine transportation and naval architecture.
“We have also seen NIMASA as a tool of promoting and forging positive diplomatic relations between Philippines and Nigeria.
“It has been possible for this embassy to encourage three universities to establish affiliate universities in Nigeria simply because they have seen what the Nigerian students are capable of doing.
“I am proud to report that all the NIMASA scholars, as they are called here, are doing well.
“You call them students back home in Nigeria. They are called scholars here because of their capacity, their brilliance, their diligence and their ability in each of the three universities.
“I am proud of whatever had been NIMASA’s recruitment system, which had turned out these students who are doing very well here,” the envoy said.
Responding, Obi conveyed the appreciation of NIMASA’s management for the ambassador’s efforts to support the agency and care for the students.
“The director-general of NIMASA has also asked me to thank you very much for the way you have so far taken care of our students here,” Obi told Farounbi.
Some of the students undergoing the seafarers’ training in the Philippines commended the Federal Government for instituting the NSDP.
“I have never heard or witnessed in my life an administration which has supported parastatal agencies like that of President Goodluck Jonathan,” Mr Raphael Eguagie, the leader of the students at  the University of Perpetual Help, told the delegation.
He also commended Akpobolokemi and the NIMASA management for their efforts to make the scholarship scheme a huge success.
Eguagie also conveyed the gratitude of the students for their selection for the training.
Miss Rita Idonor, a marine engineering student, recalled that the students were initially having communication problems in the Philippines, adding, however, that they overcame the difficulties and soon adapted to Filipino ways of life.
She said that the school’s management was also teaching them Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, to enable them to quickly adapt to the Filipino ways of life.
“I am, however, appealing to the university authorities to engage more English-speaking instructors in order to reduce the language barriers,” Idonor told NAN.
Another student, Miss Nyora Okubama, who is studying marine transportation, said that she was undergoing studies in navigation, collusion, regulation, stability and training.
She, however, said that she would be glad if the government obliged them to go for practical sea time experience after their three years of studies.
“I am prepared go onboard the vessel for the one-year sea time training.
“I am prepared for the sea time experience because I have learnt that the sea could be a little bit rough. However, I don’t think I will be sea sick; I am fully prepared for the sea time training,” Okubama said.
Another marine engineering student, Mr Rupert Kosin, urged the university authorities to employ more marine engineering instructors to teach them the theoretical aspects of the courses.
“I believe that they are basically better in the practical aspects than the theoretical aspects.
“The school authorities had also facilitated our learning Tagalog (the local name for Filipino language) to reduce our communication problems,” he said.
Mr Perekeme Odofori, another marine engineering student, said he had undergone a lot of practical training but needed to improve on the theoretical aspects.
He, however, said that the Nigerian ambassador had promised to urge the management of the university improve on the theoretical aspects of the training schedule.
He expressed his willingness to come back to Nigeria to impact his knowledge to other citizens, who had yet to undergo the training.
Mr Charles Ughovero, the President of the Nigerian students in University of Cebu, lauded the management of NIMASA for giving them the privilege to study in the Philippines.
He said that apart from being trained in core areas of shipping and allied topics, they were also being trained on how to handle commercial contracts.
Dr Peter Laurel, the President, Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), Batangas City, said that the management of the university would give quality training to Nigerian cadets.
Laurel, who was represented by Mr Frederick Badillo, a top official of the university, said that the university had good facilities that would facilitate the training of the students to become successful maritime professionals in future.
In a message, Mr Anthony Tamayo, the President of the University of Perpetual Help, commended the management of NIMASA for choosing his institution for the programme.
Tamayo, who was represented by his son, Dr Antonio Tamayo, the Chief Executive Officer of the university, however, urged the Federal Government to use the training programme to strengthen the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Philippines.
He noted that the Nigerian cadets were quite eager to learn, adding that they were also very courteous and diligent in their studies.
“The bilateral relations between the Philippines and Nigeria had been strengthened, particularly in the educational area, due to the fact that both nations have been able to exchange students.
“Nigerian scholars, after the three-year study, would have acquired appropriate skills to practise the profession.
“Since English is the medium of our instruction here in Philippines because both Nigerian and Filipinos speak English, this has reduced the level of language barrier,” Tamayo said.
Mr Atty Augusto, the President of Cebu University of Maritime Education and Training Centre (CU-METC), said that Nigerian students were now competent enough in the shipping field to compete with their counterparts worldwide.
He, however, advised the Nigerian cadets to enrol for advanced maritime studies after the training.
Augustino vouched for the competence of the Nigerian cadets, saying: “Nigerian students often come first in both the practical and theoretical aspects of their studies.”
The students, nonetheless, appealed for an increase in their monthly allowances to enable them to take care of some of their personal needs such as stationeries, transportation and clothing.
All in all, observers insist that the NIMASA seafarers’ training in the Philippines will enhance the human resource capacity of Nigeria’s maritime sector, while boosting bilateral relations between the two countries.
Cole writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

 

Aisha Cole

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MoneyPoint Empowers Pharmacists With Payment Solutions 

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MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.

Corlins Walter

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Embrace AI, CIIN Urges Insurance Operators 

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In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.

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NASRDA Reassures On Strengthening Nigeria’s Space Capability 

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In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.

Corlins Walter

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