Incoming administration ask to give maximum priority to maritime industry.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.

The Chief Executive Officer of Employment Clinic, Ronke Kosoko, has called on the incoming federal government to give maximum attention to the maritime industry towards economic empowerment of the people and boosting of the economy because of its potentials.

While congratulating Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his victory as the president elect she said the maritime Industry should be given the attention it deserves under his administration as it is a veritable sector to boost the economy because of its potentials and also provide jobs for teeming unemployed youths.

On unemployment in the country, she said her organisation is much concerned hence it has unveiled a Maritime Conversion Programme (MCP), which is designed to introduce Nigerian graduates to the maritime sector.

Addressing the media at Morlap House in Apapa, Lagos on Wednesday, Kosoko said that the MCP, which has gotten the backing of the government, would give support and connect not less than 5000 Nigerian graduates with the right employers in the industry who can engage them in non-technical aspects of the shipping.

She noted that women will be given adequate percentage under MCP, stating that the MCP is not creating jobs but providing a fertile ground for transfer of knowledge from old Nigerians in the industry to young ones.

Kosoko also congratulated Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on his re-election.

She implored the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to appoint qualified Nigerians to head government agencies in the maritime industry and also address myriad of problems that mitigate the growth of the industry which, she said, is capable of addressing youths unemployment.

“Tinubu can’t say no to maritime industry. We have been talking to people we know who can be in his cabinet on the economic prospect of the industry for the nation and the need to address various problems which have plagued the sector. We wanted people with experience be appointed to key agencies in the industry. We want the industry to reclaim its glory.”

She emphasised that the Lagos State 30 years Masterplan launched in 2022 can’t work without maritime.

She thereby called on the Lagos state government to pay more attention to provision of infrastructure that can aid the growth of the industry in the state.”