Dockyard Training School: NPA To Partner With WMU, Others For Curriculum Development

Following the commissioning of its Dockyard Training School in Lagos, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has revealed its plan to partner with the World Maritime University (WMU) the Nigerian Navy Hydrography Department, the Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography Research, the University of Lagos and other research and learning institutions in the area of curriculum development and capacity building.

Speaking during the commissioning of the training facility which was held, on Wednesday, in Apapa, Lagos, the Managing Director of the NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, explained that the commissioning of the Dockyard Training School is a testament to the agency’s resolve to institute continuous learning as a culture in the agency.

According to Mohammed Bello-Koko, “A modern technical training facility of this nature is germane to us as an Authority because the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn which it offers constitutes a critical success factor in actualizing our strategic intent of becoming the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa.

“As most of us are aware, having in place a robust talent pool is a necessary precondition for operating efficiently in the fiercely competitive terrain that port business is.

“Consistently up-skilling and re-skilling our employees on whom we place a very high premium is our overriding objective as a management team, and our readiness to position them to be best in class, is at the core of what this training school sets to achieve

“This complex has the capacity of training 380 persons per time as it consists of a lecture theatre with a seating capacity of 73 persons, a large hall with a seating capacity of 112; a mini hall with a seating capacity of 50 people; another with 27 and six simulation classrooms that seats 16 persons each, including a fully automated library with seating capacity for 120 persons and a hostel with a 30-bed capacity.

“The decision to invest so much in this facility took cognizance of our former employees, some of whom although retired are not tired. We intend to tap into their wealth of experience and institutional knowledge by inviting them as resource persons to train upcoming employees.

“Processes are also in the works to partner with the World Maritime University, The Nigerian Navy Hydrography Department. Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography Research, the University of Lagos and other research and learning institutions in the area of curriculum development and capacity building.

“It would be pertinent to mention that work is at advanced stages to transform our Riggers Workshop to a marine and Seamanship Workshop to be deployed for training in the area of Seamanship Practical, Radio/Signal. Marine Engine/Auxiliaries. Buoyage Practical, Mooring and other Marine related competencies are increasingly in demand not just in-house but indeed in our industry. This training will significantly help to insulate us and our stakeholders from the grave risk of talent deficit.”