The Nigerian maritime industry may be edging closer to reducing its long-standing dependence on foreign manpower, as the Nigerian Maritime Services Limited (NSML) Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCOE) said 272 cadets have completed sea-time training under its Seafarers Continuous Development Programme (SCDP).

The Manager, MCOE, Dr Effiong Ekanem-Attah, disclosed this while presenting a paper on behalf of the Managing Director of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, at a summit in Lagos.

According to Ekanem-Attah, the intervention was designed to address one of the most persistent barriers confronting aspiring African seafarers, including inadequate access to quality sea-time opportunities required to obtain professional certification.

The company said another 54 cadets were currently either in college or onboard vessels, progressing towards obtaining their Certificates of Competency (CoC).

The development, Ekanem-Attah said, demonstrated how an integrated maritime training system could bridge the gap between classroom education and the practical experience required for professional certification and employment in the global maritime industry.

He said the company’s approach was driven by the need to tackle Africa’s chronic shortage of internationally certified maritime professionals, noting that many African shipping companies had historically relied on expatriates for critical technical and operational positions.

Beyond cadet training, he said NSML had pursued a deliberate Nigerianisation agenda by developing indigenous maritime manpower.

Ekanem-Attah said as of August 2026, the company employed over 700 seafarers, making it the largest employer of qualified Nigerian seafarers.

He further stated that the MCOE had invested in advanced bridge and engine-room simulators, as well as Dynamic Positioning systems, allowing trainees to practise vessel operations, emergency response, navigation, and decision-making in simulated real-world environments.

According to him, the combination of simulation, certification, sea-time, research, consultancy and industry partnerships had transformed the traditional fragmented approach to maritime training into a structured talent-development pipeline.

He said the MCOE’s activities also extended to maritime research and consultancy, including shipbuilding supervision, commercial project evaluation, dry-docking supervision, vessel lifecycle support and crew and vessel management advisory services.

Ekanem-Attah disclosed that plans were underway to expand the centre’s facilities with support from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), aimed at increasing capacity, introducing additional courses and making most, if not all, international maritime certifications obtainable in Nigeria.

He said the expansion would further strengthen Nigeria’s position as a maritime training hub for West Africa and help retain training expenditure within the continent.

He maintained that Africa’s maritime manpower challenge could not be solved by conventional classroom training alone, stressing the need for an ecosystem that combines technology, practical sea time, professional certification, mentorship, research, and industry collaboration.

Ekanem-Attah added that the MCOE experience showed that local institutions could develop maritime professionals capable of competing in the international labour market while advancing indigenous participation in the shipping industry.