The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) has entered into a partnership with the Liberia Maritime Authority and Liberia Maritime Training Institute to advance maritime education, skills development and the growth of Africa’s blue economy.

The partnership was disclosed on Tuesday during a reciprocal visit to MAN in Oron by the Board Chairman of the Liberian Maritime Authority, Mr Tornorlah Varpilah.

Varpilah said the visit provided an opportunity for both sides to share knowledge and expertise with the aim of advancing maritime education and supporting the development of Africa’s blue economy.

He said Nigeria possesses the resources and investment capacity required to promote sustainable growth within the maritime sector.

The Liberian maritime official also praised the Federal Government for its investment in maritime infrastructure, saying the facilities at MAN demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity to develop the skilled manpower needed to support the African blue economy.

Varpilah said closer collaboration between Nigeria and Liberia could assist both countries in tackling challenges affecting Africa’s maritime industry.

“We are here to promote the African region. Nigeria is rich, they have enough capital for investment. We are committed to this partnership,” he said.

The Board Chairman of MAN, Mr Kehinde Akinola, said the new partnership was a follow-up to a visit by a Nigerian delegation to Liberia in 2025 and would further strengthen institutional ties between Nigeria and Liberia.

According to Akinola, both countries have a shared maritime heritage as well as a common objective of developing a safe, secure and prosperous maritime industry in the Gulf of Guinea.

The Acting Rector of MAN, Dr Kevin Okonna, outlined several areas covered by the collaboration, including cadet training, academic programme exchanges, lecturer exchanges and the deployment of trained cadets.

He said the partnership would additionally facilitate the exchange of expertise in the blue economy and support recognition of seafarers’ certifications between the two countries.

Okonna said the arrangement could allow Liberian seafarers to undertake training in Nigeria, while Nigerian cadets could train or secure work aboard vessels flying the Liberian flag.

He further stated that MAN’s programmes had been approved in accordance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).

Source: msme africa online