The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has offered overseas training to no fewer than 41 youths as part of efforts towards equipping and empowering them for future endeavours.

The Director-General, NIMASA, Mr. Zaikede Patrick Akpobolokemi, stressed the importance of the training while welcoming the graduates who just came back from India training in Lagos on Friday.

He said that the overseas training was in line with the current administration’s agenda of youth empowerment, especially in the maritime sector because of the huge potential in the sector.

He said that the agency had embarked upon the upgrading of its facilities so that students not privileged to go abroad would also be trained here, adding that sea time training had also reached an advanced stage.

The DG advised the youths to put whatever they had learnt into good use as well as look at ways of contributing towards the development of the maritime sector and the country at large.

He said that the challenges in the sector were surmountable, if the beneficiaries put their knowledge into good use.

He said, “We are happy to see our cadets just back from India, while some are proceeding to London for further studies. No amount of resources invested on them is wasted because they have been adequately trained for future challenges in the sector.

“The responsibility is to put into good use whatever you were taught and to think of how to help transform the country into a better place. When you are law abiding, an enabling environment will be created for your uplifting.”

He also said, “We are embarking on upgrading the facilities here so that students who are not privileged to go abroad will do their studies here. We have also gone very far on sea time training.”