The University of Lagos Management has secured the commitment of the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, CFR, to ensure completion of the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) UNILAG by the end of April 2024.
This formed part of discussions on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, when the UNILAG Management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, paid a courtesy visit to the NIMASA Headquarters located at Apapa, Lagos.
The visit according to Prof. Ogunsola was to appreciate the management of NIMASA for the long-standing partnership and its commitment to the ongoing Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) UNILAG building project.
The Vice-Chancellor adjudged the UNILAG-IMS building project a feat that aligns with the spirited efforts of UNILAG to develop Marine Sciences in Nigeria. She lauded the pace of the building project and expressed optimism that, when completed, it will serve as a converging point for all actors in the maritime sector.
Prof. Ogunsola said “beyond the UNILAG-IMS Building Project, UNILAG intends to become a formidable force in the Maritime space through developing and grooming the right capacities, building partnerships, broadening the horizon to drive relevant research, ensuring proper certification, securing industry engagement and facilitating exchange opportunities for students for global relevance”.
While assuring the NIMASA Management of the University’s commitment towards sustaining standards, Prof. Ogunsola pointed out the University’s intentionality to change the narrative. She identified the three (3) successive editions of the University of Lagos International Week which saw many international scholars from different countries converging on UNILAG, as a major breakthrough which has fostered international partnerships for the university and boosted the confidence of the comity of ivory towers in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, CFR, appreciated the UNILAG Management for the hands of fellowship and proactiveness.
While applauding the quality and competencies of UNILAG graduates whom he said account for over 25 percent of NIMASA staff strength, Dr Jamoh said the UNILAG-IMS was borne out of NIMASA’s commitment to promoting Maritime education in Nigeria.
He assured of his commitment to ensuring the completion and commissioning of the UNILAG-IMS Building by the end of April 2024 and passed a vote of confidence that, in not more than 5 years from now, the UNILAG-IMS will become the epicentre of research ideas and recommendations which will help reposition Nigeria’s Blue Economy.
The NIMASA Boss also directed the Administrative arm of NIMASA to harmonize all sixteen (16) Memoranda of Understanding which NIMASA has signed with universities in Nigeria and hand it over to UNILAG as a guide in curriculum development and other necessary areas to ensure full optimization of UNILAG-IMS when completed.
There were comments and remarks by officers of NIMASA who commended UNILAG Management for the commitment to the UNILAG-IMS Project. They also expressed hope that when operational, the project will mark a new dawn in maritime education in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that former Minister of Transportation, Engineer Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, performed the official ground-breaking for the UNILAG-NIMASA Institute of Maritime Studies on Saturday, December 10, 2022 (See https://unilag.edu.ng/?p=17142).
Being one of the six sited across each geopolitical zone of the country, the project which is situated close to the UNILAG Botanical Garden is meant to provide suitable manpower requirements for the contemporary maritime industry, through comprehensive theoretical and practical maritime training.
Report: Gbenga Gbelee
Photograph: Samuel Dosunmu
