The Secretary General of the West and Central African Maritime Organization (WCAMO), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has reaffirmed the organization's determination to bridge the entire maritime human capital gap through collaboration and synergies among training establishments in West and Central Africa.
The WOCAO SG who was speaking at the opening session of a four-day exchange visit days of the Regional Maritime University, Accra and the Regional Academy of Marine Scientists and Technicians, Abidjan at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, said that over 90 per cent of the region's trade is carried out by sea, but its ability to fully exploit the advantages of its vast domain depends largely on the quality of human capital it develops
While expressing optimism for progress through synergy, Adalikwu identified some challenges related to maritime training, including including digital transformation and emerging maritime technologies; decarbonization and environmental compliance and maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea.
He also identified increasing global standards in training and certification as an achievable level through synergies that would open up opportunities for certification recognition leading to maritime jobs for African youth.
According to the MOWCA SG, the collaboration will provide a unique platform to harmonize curriculum and training standards ; promote exchanges of professors and students; share infrastructure, research results and best practices; develop joint certification programs aligned with international standards and strengthen regional identity in maritime education and training.
Speaking further, Adalikwu said: “Ultimately, what we seek to build is not just cooperation, but a cohesive regional maritime knowledge ecosystem.
“MOWCA remains firmly committed to supporting initiatives that improve maritime capacity and institutional collaboration in our member states. This aligns with our broader strategic priorities, including:
the development of a skilled maritime workforce; promoting safe, secure and efficient navigation; strengthening regional integration; providing the necessary capacity for the promotion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFAC) and intra-African trade,” he said.
He added that the synergy will continue research on the African contribution in seeking solutions to the discussion on alternative fuel energy source;
Support the creation of sustainable maritime institutions, including initiatives such as the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank
Acting Rector of MAN Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna, described the edition of the exchange visit organized in Nigeria as an honor which aims to establish collaboration between maritime training institutions in the region and around the world.
Okonna recalled that in November 2025, MAN Oron hosted officials from RMU Ghana at its 2025 graduation ceremony where a memorandum of understanding was tabled and close to full consummation.
He also stated that the Nigeria's first MTI had visited the Liberian Maritime Administration for a similar synergy aimed at enhancing global recognition of certification of institutions.
He commended MOWCA for further strengthening the drive to harmonize maritime education and training in the West and Central African regions while expressing confidence that the presentations, roundtables and interactions will further promote knowledge in areas such as training, certification and monitoring standards (STCW) as amended.
Okonna expressed his belief that the synergies would lead to exchange of lecturers and students, socio-cultural interaction and promotion of unity in the maritime ecosystem of the region
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of RMU, Dr. Jethro Brooks, praised the intervention of MOWCA and called on all training institutions in the region to emulate the new will rapid development of the African continent.
He added that Africa's challenges are best addressed through collaboration rather than isolation, shared resources, aligned training programs and harmonies.
He said that RMU is uniquely positioned to advance the meeting's objectives for enhanced, highly skilled and globally competitive human capital for maritime education and training in Africa and beyond.
Colonel Coulibally Kareem, Director General of the Abidjan-based Regional Academy of Marine Science and Technology, praised the MOWCA SG for laying a cornerstone of a lasting relationship to develop African maritime training for its relevance on the international stage.
Coulibally said it was an opportunity to benchmark the training program and find solutions to maritime training challenges in the region while reiterating the academy's full support to the initiative.
Mr. William Azuh, former head of the African Section, Subdivision for Maritime Development at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), described the meeting as a timely and bold step towards the development of maritime training for WCOWA member countries and beyond.
SOURCE: https://thecrystalnews.com/2026/05/04/adalikwu-reaffirms-maritime-capacity-drive-as-mowca-fosters-training-institutions-partnership/
