Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa obtains $1.3 million scholarship program from Indonesian government, targeting skills development for 96 regional seafarers while boosting maritime industry competitiveness.
The comprehensive training initiative addresses critical gaps in maritime expertise across West and Central African nations, with economic implications extending beyond individual capacity building. Maritime industry analysts project enhanced certification standards could increase regional shipping revenues by ₦280 billion annually through improved service quality and international compliance.
Secretary General Dr. Paul Adalikwu confirmed the scholarship distribution among member states includes two specialized programs focusing on Training of Trainers and Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers. These courses align with International Maritime Organisation standards essential for regional maritime sector growth and global market integration.
The scholarships cover complete program costs including transportation, accommodation, tuition fees, and stipends for participants. This comprehensive support removes financial barriers traditionally preventing maritime professionals from accessing advanced training opportunities, particularly benefiting candidates from smaller coastal economies.
“The objective ensures Certificates of Competence issued to seafarers from MOWCA region achieve full compliance with Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention provisions,” explained Dr. Adalikwu during program announcement. Enhanced certification standards directly impact employment opportunities and salary levels for regional maritime professionals.
Training programs commence October 2025 across four batches of 24 participants each, maximizing knowledge transfer efficiency while maintaining quality instruction standards. The structured approach ensures systematic skills development across participating nations while creating networks for continued professional collaboration.
Regional maritime academies including Ghana’s Regional Maritime University, Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, and Regional Academy of Science and Technology of the Sea will benefit directly from enhanced instructor capabilities. Improved training quality supports long-term maritime sector development while reducing dependence on foreign expertise.
Economic benefits extend to national shipping industries through improved operational efficiency, reduced insurance costs, and enhanced international market access. Properly certified seafarers command higher wages while contributing to national maritime sector competitiveness in global shipping markets.
The Indonesian partnership demonstrates successful South-South cooperation models supporting African maritime development objectives. Enhanced regional capabilities reduce training costs while building sustainable expertise networks essential for maritime industry growth.
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