Ninety-eight maritime delegates sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, have completed specialised training in maritime-related skills.
The training, which held at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Otomewo, Delta State, is part of the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s manpower development scheme for the Niger Delta.
A formal close-out ceremony was held on Tuesday at the institute’s premises to mark the graduation of the 98 PAP maritime cadets after the one-month vocational training.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Igoniko Oduma.
Speaking at the event, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, described the training as strategic, stressing that it was aimed at equipping the cadets with the requisite skills for the country’s maritime industry, which is anchored on President Bola Tinubu’s policy on the blue economy.
He added that the deployment of the cadets for the exercise was in line with the PAP’s mandate to develop manpower and human resources in the Niger Delta.
“I am very delighted that you have successfully completed your boot camp and refresher course. It is another significant milestone that underscores the commitment of the PAP under my leadership towards developing the requisite manpower and human capital for the Niger Delta.
“Manpower and human resources development are critical to the economic growth and development of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.
“More importantly, your training in specialised maritime-related skills is very strategic. It aligns with the policy of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the blue economy to harness the massive opportunities in the nation’s maritime industry for national development,” Otuaro said.
He lauded the President, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their unwavering support for the PAP and the economic growth, development and stability of the Niger Delta.
Otuaro added that the Presidential Amnesty Programme would strive to train more Niger Deltans in specialised vocational skills in diverse trade areas.
Formal education, post-training empowerment, among others, are also part of the PAP reintegration template, aimed at fostering sustainable peace in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
The PAP administrator congratulated the maritime cadets on their successful completion of the training, and advised them to explore the vast opportunities in the blue economy and maritime domain.
According to him, the blue economy and maritime domain is their natural environment as Niger Deltans.
He noted that they demonstrated high discipline throughout the duration of the training, and urging them to show professionalism and competence when operators in the maritime industry engage their services.
Otuaro also expressed appreciation to the management of the institute for justifying the confidence reposed in them with the thorough and professional handling of the maritime cadets’ training.
The MD of Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Akpos Epidei, made recommendations for higher certification programmes for the maritime cadets in the future.
The Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, in a goodwill message delivered by one of his aides, Amafini Akemeotubo, noted that Otuaro has refocused the Presidential Amnesty Programme for better service delivery to the Niger Delta people.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating cadets, Ebi Jackson expressed gratitude to the PAP administrator for the boot camp and refresher course. He noted that the cadets benefited greatly from the exercise.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of awards/certificates to the 98 maritime cadets by the PAP administrator.
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