Dakuku Peterside, former director-general and CEO at Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has advocated for the validation of maritime expertise to align local competencies with global standards to enable workforce mobility and competitiveness in the global industry.
Peterside made this call at the Omniversity Imperial College’s 2025 African Education Innovation Workshop and ISO-Aligned Practice Qualifications Conferment, held in Lagos, arguing that such measures are critical to building capacity for tomorrow’s work.
“The kind of work that our children will be exposed to, and competing for, currently, do not exist.
“So today’s work, if we don’t have capacity, we’re certainly not going to compete for tomorrow’s work,” he said.
The former national lawmaker emphasised that Nigeria’s maritime industry underpins trade, logistics, and offshore energy operations, making it vital to national economic growth.
“Nigeria’s Maritime sector is the cornerstone of our foreign trade because 98 percent of exported goods is via sea (2024 data).
“Globally, the picture is not different. At least 70-75 percent of all cargo between nations is done via seaborne trade and there can be no seaborne trade without Maritime professionals,” he noted.
Besides, he reiterated that maritime skills are crucial in Nigeria for both economic and national security reasons; stressing that the industry supports nearly $44billion (about N70trillion) of GDP and is responsible for over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs with a gap of 96,000 of trained maritime professionals, million jobs, making it a foundational pillar of the Nigerian economy.
“Every year, more than 90-98 percent of all Nigeria import and export move through ports, underscoring the sector’s role in trade, logistics, and access to global markets.
“The Cabotage Act protects our local shipping industry and it employs roughly 10,000 persons, with potential to employ 100,000 persons if well harnessed,” Peterside explained.
Moreover, Peterside said that maritime is the backbone of oil and gas industry; stressing that maritime skills open doors for career advancement, with specialised training leading to higher-ranking positions and increased FX earning potential.
Speaking on the NIMASA regulation, he explained that the agency uses the concept of practice qualification.
“Practice qualifications are competency-based recognitions that assess demonstrable expertise, leadership impact, and practical achievements in a specific field.
“Unlike purely academic degrees, they emphasise verifiable contributions, innovation, and applied learning outcomes,” he said.
This NIMASA standard, he said has its meeting point with the practice qualification offered by Omniversity Imperial College, in that the college’s bachelor, master, doctor, and professor of practice models affirm the practitioner’s mastery of real-world application in maritime safety, port operations, navigation, marine engineering, logistics, and administration.
This, he noted, complements NIMASA’s certification framework, ensuring that professional performance meets both academic and industry benchmarks.
According to the maritime consultant, “By integrating Omniversity’s practice validation with NIMASA’s technical certification: maritime expertise gains dual recognition; both regulatory and academic.
“Seafarers and maritime professionals acquire global credentials enhancing international employment mobility. Continuous professional development is embedded in a formal learning structure.”
He maintained that maritime institutions in Nigeria can align with Omniversity as affiliated centres for applied learning and professional certification.
“Such collaboration can create a maritime practice qualification hub in Nigeria, supporting national goals for blue economy expansion and human capital development,” he noted.
Peterside outlined some of the economic impact of practice qualification, such as improve operational efficiency, reduce maritime accidents, enhance international trust, and promote local content.
Others include, skilled and certified practitioners directly impact port performance, logistics management, and export capacity.
“As more Nigerian professionals gain Omniversity’s practice-based certifications recognized globally, the sector’s credibility and contribution to GDP rise significantly,” he said.
In addition, he said, “Moreover, by building a robust pipeline of qualified professionals, Nigeria can follow the example of countries such as the Philippines and export maritime talent, generating valuable remittances.
“Achieving this goal, however, requires a new approach to training and certification. Embracing practice-based qualification and certification is the key to unlocking greater opportunities for our young men and women.”
This approach, he said will not only expands access to training but also enhances the international recognition and employability of Nigerian maritime professionals.
“By prioritising collaboration in this area, Nigeria can cultivate a new generation of highly skilled individuals ready to lead the blue economy,” he said..
