THE chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s inland waterways sector through international collaboration, following a strategic meeting with the president of the World Maritime University, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., at the IMO Council Meeting.

The meeting, in London focused on leveraging global expertise to support inland waterways development, maritime education, capacity building and sustainable transportation systems in Nigeria.

Speaking during the engagement, Shagari who led Niwa acting Managing Director, Yusuf Girei, to the meeting, informed that Nigeria remains committed to modernising its inland waterways infrastructure and developing the skilled workforce needed to drive growth in the sector. He noted that the country’s vast waterways network presents significant opportunities for transportation, trade and blue economy development.

He said, strategic partnerships with internationally recognised maritime institutions are essential to achieving the Federal Government’s objectives of improving safety, efficiency and economic activities on the nation’s inland waterways.

The NIWA board chairman stressed that enhanced collaboration in research, training and knowledge exchange would help Nigerian maritime professionals acquire the technical competencies required to address emerging industry challenges and align with global best practices.

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Responding, Professor Mejia reaffirmed the World Maritime University’s commitment to supporting member states through education, research and capacity development initiatives.

He commended Nigeria’s growing focus on maritime development and expressed the institution’s readiness to deepen cooperation with relevant agencies and stakeholders in the country.

The WMU president noted that long-term maritime growth can only be sustained through investments in human capital, innovation and strict adherence to international standards.