MOWCA unites maritime academies to bridge human capital gap in West, Central Africa

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

Secretary-General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Dr. Paul Adalikwu, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to closing maritime human capital gaps in the region through stronger collaboration among maritime training institutions.

Adalikwu made this known at the opening of a four-day exchange visit involving the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Accra; Académie Régionale des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer (ARSTM), Abidjan; and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

Speaking at the event, Adalikwu said the initiative reflects MOWCA’s broader vision of building a stronger maritime workforce capable of driving economic growth and competitiveness in West and Central Africa.

According to him, although over 90 per cent of trade in the region is transported by sea, the ability of member states to fully maximise opportunities within the maritime domain depends largely on the quality of manpower developed through training institutions.

He noted that the maritime sector is facing new realities, including digital transformation, emerging technologies, decarbonisation, environmental compliance requirements, and maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea.

Adalikwu also highlighted the growing importance of aligning training and certification with international standards, stressing that stronger institutional partnerships would improve certification recognition and expand employment opportunities for African youths in the global maritime industry.

“The collaboration provides a unique platform to harmonise curricula and training standards, promote faculty and student exchanges, share infrastructure, research outputs and best practices, develop joint certification programmes aligned with international standards, and strengthen regional identity in maritime education and training,” he said.

He added that MOWCA is focused on building what he described as a cohesive regional maritime knowledge ecosystem.

“MOWCA remains firmly committed to supporting initiatives that enhance maritime capacity and institutional collaboration across member states. This aligns with our strategic priorities, including the development of a skilled maritime workforce, promotion of safe, secure and efficient shipping, strengthening regional integration, and supporting the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area,” Adalikwu stated.

He further explained that the partnership would support research into African solutions for alternative fuel and cleaner energy sources, while also strengthening efforts to establish sustainable maritime institutions, including the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank.

Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna, described Nigeria’s hosting of the maiden edition of the exchange programme as a significant milestone in advancing regional maritime cooperation.

Okonna said the initiative is designed to deepen collaboration among maritime training institutions within the region and globally.

He recalled that MAN Oron hosted officials from the Regional Maritime University, Ghana, during its 2025 graduation ceremony, where both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation.

He also disclosed that the academy had earlier visited the Liberian Maritime Administration to pursue similar institutional partnerships focused on improving the global recognition of certifications.

Okonna commended MOWCA for driving the harmonisation of maritime education and training standards in West and Central Africa.

He expressed confidence that presentations, panel discussions and stakeholder engagements during the exchange visit would improve knowledge sharing in areas such as Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), while opening new opportunities for lecturer and student exchange programmes, cultural integration, and stronger regional unity.

Acting Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University, Ghana, Dr. Jethro Brooks, praised MOWCA’s intervention, describing the initiative as critical to accelerating Africa’s maritime development agenda.

Brooks urged maritime institutions across the continent to embrace collaboration, noting that Africa’s developmental challenges are better addressed through partnerships rather than isolated efforts.

He said RMU is strategically positioned to support the objectives of the initiative by contributing to the development of highly skilled and globally competitive maritime professionals.

Also speaking, Director-General of the Abidjan-based Regional Academy of Marine Sciences and Technology, Colonel Coulibally Kareem, commended Adalikwu for laying what he described as a solid foundation for sustainable institutional partnerships in African maritime training.

Kareem said the initiative offers participating institutions the opportunity to compare training curricula, identify common challenges, and jointly develop solutions capable of improving the relevance of African maritime education on the global stage.

He pledged the academy’s full support for the programme.

A former Head of African Section, Subdivision for Maritime Development at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr. William Azuh, described the meeting as timely and a bold step toward strengthening maritime training development across MOWCA member countries and beyond.