Remodelling Nigeria's Seafarers Development Programme
The National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) launched by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2009 with a view to bridging the projected employment gap in the seafaring profession is so far adjudged by its sponsors, promoters and beneficiaries as Nigeria’s most successful outing in her long and chequered history of Seafarer education. According to one report, over 2500 out of the projected 5000 Seafarers have so far been trainedat both degree levels and high professional standards in various countries like Romania, The Philippines, United Kingdom, United States of America, India, Egypt, and other countries, under the NSDP.The funding is a 60:40 ratio where the state governments are to provide 60 percent of the tuition fees and NIMASA is to provide the balance of 40 percent. Other financial obligations like air fares, monthly allowance and other sundry expenses are borne solely by NIMASA. And for this, NIMASA is reported to have budgeted the su