The Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, FCFMT, has raised concerns over the shortage of vessels and employment opportunities for Nigerians trained for careers in the maritime industry.
Deputy Provost, Academics, Dr Adebowale Aderonke, said Nigeria was producing marine engineers, navigators and other maritime professionals but lacked enough vessels to absorb the graduates and provide the practical sea-time experience required.
Aderonke, who represented the Provost, Dr Chuks Paul Onuoha, during a courtesy visit, said the problem was not necessarily a shortage of qualified graduates but the limited number of ships available.
She said: “I will first say yes. Then I think again, how many of those trawlers do we have? How many of those vessels do we actually have? How many ships do we have?
“We are producing. I remember when NIMASA came, you know, the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, just completed the process of accrediting Nigeria, and, of course, they had to assess all the schools.
“When I look at what we all produce, what we send out, how many of them actually get jobs as marine engineers, as navigators on board ships, where there are no ships?”
She said greater investment in the maritime sector was required to increase the number of vessels and employment opportunities.
Aderonke expressed optimism that the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy would lead to greater attention to the industry.
“I know now that the highest on the maritime spectrum, I’m very sure that even the governments will pay more attention and then maybe there will be more job opportunities,” she said.
She disclosed that FCFMT graduates close to 500 students from maritime-related programmes.
The college offers programmes including Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Maritime Transport and Business Management, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Fisheries, Oceanography and Fisheries Technology, Industrial and Labour Relations and Public Administration.
She said most programmes were offered at National Diploma level, while Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Fisheries and Maritime Transport and Business Administration were also available at Higher National Diploma level.
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