By AISHA COLE

Some Marine and Blue Economy experts, on Wednesday, urged the younger generation, especially secondary school students, to choose careers in the maritime sector to enable Nigeria achieve sustainable economic growth.

They gave the advice during the Children’s Day Blue Talents School for Sea Programme organised by the Ocean Ambassador Foundation (OAF) in Lagos.

In her presentation, the Director of Operations, AA Secure Platforms Ltd., Mrs. Bilkis Lawal-Akinola, said that maritime security referred to the protection of the oceans, seas, rivers, and coastal areas from threats, including those that endanger vessels, ports, and the maritime environment.

She said that maritime security also encompassed a range of security procedures and strategies to safeguard maritime assets, ensure safe navigation, and prevent illicit activities.

“Maritime security is critical to ensuring safe and efficient vessel operations, hence the need for integration of advanced technologies, robust regulatory frameworks, and proactive leadership is key to maintaining and enhancing our security posture,” Lawal-Akinola said.

Also speaking, the Foundation’s President, Mrs. Violet Williams, said she did not see the young ones as just children, but as future marine engineers and lawyers, ship captains, master mariners, clearing agents, among other professionals.

Williams said this was why Ocean Ambassador Foundation enlightened 150 students from various schools in Lagos to enable them choose careers in Marine and Blue Economy to make Nigeria a maritime hub across Africa.

She said that though maritime was not taught in primary or secondary schools, the programme offered students a chance to explore the marine and blue economy.

The founder said she organised the programme to celebrate the Children’s Day with the students to enable them interact with professionals in the sector for more knowledge and opportunities.

Williams said the students had received lectures on maritime security and supply chain prospects in the marine and blue economy sector and guidance on pathways to success in those fields.

Also, the Human Resource Manager, LTT Coastal and Marine Services Ltd., Mrs. Theodora Nwaeze, advised students, who intended to choose maritime security as a profession, to have interest in maritime operations.

“Before you can work as a maritime security officer, after the first degree on any course or maritime-related courses, then you have to obtain International Ship and Ports Facility Code (ISPS Code) and Chief Security Officer Code (SSO).

“Boating the ISPS and SSO code requires less than two days training before you can be employed in maritime sector as chief security officers,” Nwaeze said.

In her presentation, the Chief Superintendent of Customs, Mrs. Jane Ukil, from Tincan Island Customs Command, said Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) was a critical stakeholder and regulator with statutory responsibility to facilitate maritime trade.

She said that the customs service was also responsible for collection of tariff and duties from individual maritime nations of the world.

The Matron of Shepherd, Mrs. Eniola Williams, and Programme Manager of Shepherd, Mr. Arinze Ngonadi, commended OAF for encouraging students to be involved in logistics in the maritime operations.

NAN reports that Shepherd is an all-in-one AI-enabled learning assistant.

Ngonadi said he was sensitising the students on how to create smart learning tools and study plans to improve learning outcome by using AI designed for learning.

He also motivated the students to collaborate by sharing notes, flashcards, among others.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chief Executive Officer, Nacet Marine Service Ltd., Mr. Anthony Ogadi, commended the unique opportunity facilitated by the foundation for young developing minds.

Ogadi said this was to further enable the students have multiple choices in technical maritime sciences, commercial maritime, and economics of trade and commerce. (NAN)