Shagari Courts Global Maritime Institutions, Seeks World Class Training Opportunities for NIWA Workforce
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime sector through strategic international partnerships aimed at enhancing the professional capacity and technical competence of the agency’s workforce.
The initiative formed part of high level engagements held on the sidelines of the recent meeting of the International Maritime Organization Council in London, where Shagari met with key maritime stakeholders and global industry leaders to advance Nigeria’s maritime development agenda.
In a statement made available to newsmen by his media aides, Shagari said the discussions were focused on securing international training opportunities and institutional collaborations that would equip NIWA personnel with the skills required to meet evolving global standards in maritime administration and inland waterways management.
Among those engaged during the consultations were Bwala Auta William and Norman A. Martinez, both of whom explored areas of cooperation capable of advancing professional development within Nigeria’s maritime sector.
The discussions centered on specialized training programmes for NIWA staff in critical areas including maritime law, inland waterways administration, regulatory compliance, safety management, environmental sustainability, and international best practices.
Shagari described human capital development as a fundamental pillar for the modernization and transformation of Nigeria’s inland waterways system, stressing that sustainable growth in the sector depends largely on the quality of its workforce.
“Investing in the training and retraining of our workforce is indispensable to the transformation of Nigeria’s inland waterways system,” he stated.
He added that the agency remains committed to exposing its personnel to international best practices, contemporary maritime regulations, and emerging global trends capable of improving operational efficiency and service delivery.
According to him, collaboration with globally respected institutions such as the International Maritime Law Institute would provide Nigerian maritime professionals with valuable expertise needed to drive innovation, regulatory reforms, and institutional excellence.
The former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State further noted that the proposed partnership aligns with the Federal Government’s broader objective of strengthening maritime institutions, enhancing water transport safety, and unlocking the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s inland waterways network.
Speaking during the engagement, Martinez expressed readiness to explore mutually beneficial areas of cooperation that would support professional development and institutional capacity building for Nigerian maritime officials.
He emphasized that effective maritime governance requires a highly skilled workforce equipped with the legal, technical, and administrative knowledge necessary to address contemporary challenges facing the global maritime industry.
William also highlighted the importance of international collaboration in advancing Nigeria’s maritime interests, noting that sustained engagement with global institutions remains essential to building resilient and efficient maritime agencies.
Industry observers described the London engagement as a significant step toward deepening Nigeria’s integration into the global maritime community, while strengthening the competence of professionals responsible for managing the nation’s inland waterways sector, an area increasingly recognized as critical to economic diversification, trade facilitation, transportation efficiency, and regional connectivity.
