The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has denied reports suggesting that it plans to recall beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) from Centurion University in India. The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to ensuring that the 296 NSDP beneficiaries receive quality training and become globally employable seafarers.
Dr. Mobereola clarified that the rumors of recalling the cadets were baseless. Instead, NIMASA is conducting due diligence on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the institution to address any identified gaps and ensure the program’s effectiveness.
“We are not recalling any NSDP beneficiary from Centurion University. We are only working to close out all identified gaps in the existing MoU before proceeding to the next stage,” Dr. Mobereola stated.
He highlighted issues encountered, including the unauthorized change of course from Marine Engineering to Mechanical Engineering and the non-accreditation of certain courses, which could potentially extend the duration of studies. These changes were made without the Agency’s consent, leading to complications regarding funding and student progress.
Dr. Mobereola emphasized that NIMASA’s actions are aimed at protecting the students’ interests and ensuring the program’s success, not recalling them from their studies.
