..assures robust opportunities for youths through domestication of international maritime skills

NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) has assured that it will create more employment opportunities for Nigerian youths by domesticating international maritime skill sets locally within the country’s growing blue economy.

Managing Director of NSML, Abdulkadir Ahmed, said Nigeria must leverage its youthful population to develop the marine and blue economy, which he described as largely untapped.

Ahmed noted that the sector holds enormous potential for economic growth, stressing that Nigeria’s huge youth population remains critical for the industry to thrive and deliver tangible benefits.

Speaking on the strategic importance of the sector, he described the marine and blue economy as a vast resource that requires collective action to be fully harnessed.

Ahmed stated this during the 2025 NSML Performance Recognition and Awards Ceremony held at the weekend on Bonny Island, Rivers State.

The event, organised annually by NSML, celebrates and rewards excellence in safety, reliability and service delivery among the organisation’s staff, stakeholders and partners.

He emphasised that with Nigeria’s population exceeding 250 million — more than half of whom are under the age of 30 , the youth represent the most critical asset for the country’s maritime future.

“The marine and blue economy is an untapped resource. Nigeria, with a population of over 250 million people, and more than 50 per cent below the age of 30, must deliberately tap into this youth population.

“For us in NSML, the purpose of creating the company was centred on domesticating international maritime skill sets locally so that Nigerians can participate meaningfully in the sector.

“We are a coastal nation and there is a lot we can achieve in the international maritime sector, but we must all work together with that purpose in mind,” he said.

Reflecting on the organisation’s performance in 2025, Ahmed described the year as successful for NSML, defined by three strategic imperatives: safety, reliability and value.

He noted that shipping remains an essential enabler of global industry and that NSML’s ability to deliver cargo efficiently across the world is a testament to its operational excellence.

Ahmed attributed the company’s achievements to the dedication and professionalism of its workforce, stressing that every milestone recorded in 2025 was made possible by the commitment and resilience of staff members.

According to him, the awards ceremony was organised not only to honour awardees but also to celebrate everyone who contributed to the organisation’s success in the past year.

“We gather as one NSML family to celebrate ourselves , our people, our teams and our organisation — for outstanding performances during the year. We often say that people are our greatest asset, and this event is a true reflection of that belief.

“At NSML, our commitment to safety, reliability and value remains central to who we are. These are the standards that guide our work and the promise we extend to all our stakeholders.

“More importantly, these values are brought to life daily by the men and women who represent NSML in our offices, onboard vessels and across our operational areas,” he said.

Ahmed added that the company’s success story in 2025 was driven by its people + staff, clients, partners and service providers — who consistently uphold the organisation’s core values of Professionalism, Teamwork, Respect, Excellence and Care (PTREC).

“These values define us. They shape how we work, how we relate, how we lead and how we deliver on our commitments.

“As we celebrate the awardees, we also celebrate every single person here, because the progress NSML continues to make is built on shared effort, shared commitment and shared belief in our mission of setting the pace as the ‘go-to’ maritime centre of excellence in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

The awards ceremony featured several categories, including Contract Manager of the Year, Terminal Safety Man of the Year (Marine), Most Energy Efficient Tugboat of the Year, and Vessel with the Highest Number of Preventable Reports, among others.

Apart from employees and private sector partners, government agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Port Health Service, and the Department of State Services (DSS) also received awards in various categories.