The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has formally renewed its strategic capacity development partnership with the World Maritime University through the signing of a new four-year Memorandum of Understanding.
The agreement, concluded in Malmö, Sweden, is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime human capital and institutional capability through advanced international education and technical collaboration.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, described the partnership as a central pillar of the agency’s human capital development framework. He observed that the collaboration has, over the years, reinforced Nigeria’s technical and regulatory competence, particularly in maritime safety administration, environmental compliance and shipping management.
Dr Mobereola further stated that officers trained at WMU have materially improved Nigeria’s engagement and participation within the International Maritime Organization and other global maritime platforms, thereby strengthening the country’s voice in international regulatory discussions.
The renewed Memorandum builds on the initial agreement reached in 2022 and sets out a detailed sponsorship arrangement covering the 2026 to 2029 academic intakes. Under its terms, NIMASA has undertaken to sponsor a minimum of ten officers each year for the 14-month Master of Science programme at the WMU headquarters.
In addition, the agency will sponsor at least one officer annually for the Master of Philosophy programme, a joint initiative offered by WMU and the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
The scope of the partnership extends beyond conventional degree programmes. It includes distance learning opportunities, executive professional development courses and collaborative research projects, all designed to enhance NIMASA’s internal expertise.
These initiatives are expected to fortify the agency’s capacity in critical areas such as seafarer certification and the implementation of international maritime instruments, responsibilities that remain central to Nigeria’s obligations under global conventions. As part of the arrangement, WMU will also seek additional fellowship opportunities from international donors in order to support qualified candidates nominated by the agency.
Established in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization with a mandate to strengthen maritime capacity, particularly in developing countries, WMU has played a long-standing role in training senior maritime professionals across the world. By renewing the alliance, NIMASA intends to sustain and expand the gains recorded through previous cohorts of WMU-trained officers, whose expertise has shaped national maritime governance.
The Memorandum was signed by Dr Mobereola on behalf of NIMASA and by the President of WMU, Professor Maximo Q Mejia Jr. The event was witnessed by NIMASA’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, and WMU Registrar Mr Peter Marriott, alongside senior directors from the agency’s legal and human resources departments.
