…Calls for inclusion of shipping related courses
The Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium Ltd., Dr. Princess Vicky Haastrup Thursday took over the mantle of leadership of the Certified Institute of Shipping Nigeria (CISN) as the 4th President of the institute.
The investiture which drew the creme de la creme of the maritime industry and beyond also witnessed the conferment of the Fellowship award of the institute on some notable Nigerians among whom are the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC).
Speaking while delivering her acceptance speech, Dr. Haastrup said that Nigeria was well positioned to serve as a hub port in the African sub region because of the competitive nature of the Nigerian ports.
She stated that in order to re-engineer the maritime sector, government should provide an enabling environment through monetary and fiscal policies for trade growth and economic sustainability adding that the nation’s ports should be consolidated going by their age which she said were well over 30 years old but had never undergone any serious restructuring.
According to her, “Government should therefore do constant dredging of the channels in order to maintain a given draught. The dilapidated port access roads should be fixed while inter-modal transportation should be enhanced. The laying of channel buoys, the procurement of additional harbors craft, the establishment of new signal stations and anchorages aimed at ensuring safety of navigation, protection of maritime environment and enhancement of maritime safety should be undertaken by the government to bring down the cost of doing business.
“The maritime industry should be overhauled in the areas of maritime policies, institutional, regulatory and legal framework. This is because our policy framework is outdated and incoherent. The Nigerian Ports Authority Act is 29 years old (NPA Act No. 10 of 1987). New laws are urgently required. The National Assembly should pass the Ports and Harbours Bills currently before them”.
Haastrup who is also the Chairman, Seaports Terminal Operators’ Association of Nigeria (STOAN) while congratulating the institute on the various feats it had achieved in the areas of its specialized programme and curriculum, also said that she looked forward to seeing the institute grow from strength to strength.
“As a maritime academy, I wish to call for the inclusion of the following shipping academic related courses/programmed into the curriculum of the institute by the Board of Studies; Standard of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW) and other IMO courses, Certificate if Competencies (COC) for seamen, General Courses in Shipping Management, Port Operation, Freight Forwarding to address maritime logistics and supply chain management issues.
“Today’s event is meant to build a more inclusive national concensus by bringing on board a woman as President since the inception of the institute over 17 years ago. I know that the task before me as a new President of the institute is enormous but there can be only one winner and if we do everything right and that winner must be the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria. I urge you therefore to focus strictly on the institute’s agenda.
“As a President, I expect that all of us as a people of integrity and honour shall by our collective efforts and desire build a great institute”, she said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the immediate President of CISN, Emeritus Prof. Ayinde Adalemo called on Haastrup to remain focused on the primary objectives of CISN which he said was to fill the yawning gaps in professional training and development of its members.
He informed that as part of that development, the institute had established an innovative Enterprise Institution (College of Maritime Transport Management and Technology) to award Diplomas saying that the Diploma programmes of the College was accredited by the Federal Ministry of Education among other accrediting institutions.
He said, “To further address the technical needs of the sector, CISN has established a Coastal Polytechnic Badagry expressway Lagos which will soon take off on focus Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Engineering, Maritime Transport and Business Management to mention a few.
“To our newly elected President, Dr. Princess Vicky Haastrup fcis, note that if all the men if Timber and caliber in this great profession, the mantle of leadership, symbol of power and royal scepter of authority of this citadel of learning is given to you, it is not only because you are born a Princess , we in the profession found you worthy in character and learning and generally acceptable to the Board of Trustees, Council members, Board of Fellows and management to ask for your leadership of our great institute”.
Highlights of the event was the investiture of Dr. Princess Vicky Haastrup as the 4th President of the Institute, the oath of office administered on her, decoration of Haastrup by Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) Nigeria and goodwill messages from associations, individuals and trade unions in the maritime industry and beyond.
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