Seafarers unsung heroes of global economy – NIMASA DG

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity,  Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, will be at the forefront of the 2024 Seafarers Day on Tuesday.

Mr Edward Osagie, an Assistant Director of Public Relations at the Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Monday.

Osagie said that the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, and the Head of International Monetary Funds (ITF) Seafarer’s Trust Fund, Katie Higginbottom, would also actively participate in the celebration.

Osagie quoted Mobereola as urging Nigerians to celebrate  seafarers’ resilience and dedication at the occasion.

He urged the use of  hashtag  #SafetyTipsAtSea on social media platforms for the celebration.

“Seafarers are the unsung heroes of our global economy. I will even describe them as the lifeblood of international trade.

“They sacrifice a lot for humanity’s existence as they leave their families for months for our sake.

“Let us celebrate their resilience, dedication, and the invaluable role they play in our world,” he said.

He said that the 2024 commemoration presented another opportunity to bring to the fore, the importance of seafarers, who he described as essential workers.

“This year’s theme also aligns with the agency’s drive to protect Nigerian seafarers and create more opportunities for those willing to take a career in seafaring,” he said.

NAN reports that the International Maritime Organisation set aside June 25 annually as Seafarers Day to  recognise  contributions seafarers make to international trade and the world economy.

The theme of the 2024 edition is: “Navigating the Future: Safety First”.