The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has urged youths to consider taking up careers in the maritime industry.
Represented by the District Surveyor in the Port Harcourt, Rivers State Office, Mr. Layola Afolabi, Peterside spoke at Senior Secondary School in Opobo, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, during an advocacy programme for youths on maritime opportunities. The advocacy was themed: “Harnessing Maritime Opportunities towards Nigeria’s Economic Development”.
Peterside who also distributed science materials, including textbooks, to pupils offering science subjects, said that there are lots of job and business opportunities in the maritime sector which need to be harnessed. He listed some of the areas of opportunity to include, Seafaring, dock worker career, Stevedoring as well as maritime security, among others. He called on the pupils to think towards delving into the sector in the future.
He said: “We are here to tell and encourage the pupils on the career progression in the maritime industry, and to distribute books donated by NIMASA Director-General Dr Dakuku Peterside, to help those who will pursue a course in maritime in the future to succeed.
“This is a way the agency is giving back to the society, to encourage the youths to go to school. Again, Opobo is a coastal area and the need to get students, youths from the area to develop an interest in the Maritime industry cannot be over-emphasised.
“The maritime opportunities in Nigeria are vast but, unfortunately, foreigners appear to be the only people who see and are taking advantage of it, when Nigerians can be encouraged and developed to take over the industry for national economic growth and development.
“We are here to show you the opportunities in the maritime sector.”
Principal of the school Mrs. Beatrice Epelle thanked Dr. Peterside and NIMASA for being interested in the future of the youths. She urged other well to do individuals and organisations to take steps to impact on the youths positively.
She said: “This is wonderful, if other firms and organisations can borrow a leaf from what has happened here today, the country will be good for it.
“If there is anything I appreciate so much in all this today, it is the books they have given to the pupils. We really do lack textbooks, both for science and art subjects. The pupils most times can’t find any book to read in the library because there are none. But with this, they can now have something to read.”
The principal, however, appealed that the science laboratory whose roof had been blown away be renovated and equipped with the necessary science equipment, stressing that the school is proud to be the only “public senior secondary school” in the council.
