The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, MOWCA, is actively strengthening regional maritime capacity by fostering collaboration among training institutions to address the human capital gap.
The Secretary General of the Organisation, Dr Paul Adalikwu stated this at the opening session of a four day exchange visit of the Regional Maritime University, Accra; Academie Regionale Des Scientists Et Techniques De La Mer, Abidjan and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.
Over 90% of the region’s trade is carried by sea, yet its capacity to fully harness the benefits of its vast domain depends largely on the quality of human capital it develops, Dr Adalikwu said.
While expressing optimism for progress through synergy, Adalikwu identified some challenges of maritime training including digital transformation and emerging maritime technologies; decarbonization and environmental compliance and maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea.
He also identified increasing global standards for training and certification as a level attainable through synergies that would open opportunities, recognition of certification leading to maritime job placement for African youths.
According to him, the collaboration will provide a unique platform to harmonize curricula and training standards; promote faculty and student exchanges; share infrastructure, research outputs among others.
Speaking further, Adalikwu said “Ultimately, what we seek to build is not just cooperation—but a cohesive regional maritime knowledge ecosystem.
“MOWCA remains firmly committed to supporting initiatives that enhance maritime capacity and institutional collaboration across our member states.
“This aligns with our broader strategic priorities, including: the development of a skilled maritime workforce; promotion of safe, secure, and efficient shipping; strengthening regional integration; provide the needed capacity for the promotion of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and Intra-African trade” he said.
He noted that the synergy would further research into African contribution in finding solutions to the discussion on alternative fuel energy source, supporting the establishment of sustainable maritime institutions, including initiatives such as the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank Collaboration among maritime institutions.
Harmonising Maritime Education
The Acting Rector of Maritime Association of Nigeria, Oron, Dr Kevin Okonna described the maiden edition of the exchange visit being hosted in Nigeria as a honour which aims to establish collaboration among the maritime training institutions in the region and across the globe.
Okonna recalled that in November 2025, the Maritime Association of Nigeria, Oron hosted officials from the RMU Ghana at its 2025 graduation ceremony where a memorandum of understanding was reached.
He commended MOWCA for further enhancing the drive to harmonise maritime education and training in the West and Central African region .
Okonna expressed belief that the synergies would lead to lecturer and students exchange, social cultural interaction and promotion of unity in the region’s maritime ecosystem.
New Drive for Rapid Development
The Acting Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro Brooks lauded MOWCA’s intervention and called all training institutions in the region to emulate the new drive for rapid development of the African continent.
He explained that the challenges of Africa are better addressed through collaboration than isolation, shared resources, aligned training curricula and harmonies.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the Abidjan based Regional Academy of Marine Sciences and Technology, Colonel Coulibally Kareem lauded the Maritime Organization for laying a cornerstone for a sustainable relationship to grow African maritime training for relevance at the international stage.
According to Coulibally, it is an opportunity to compare training curricular and find solutions to the challenges of maritime training in the region while restating the academy’s full support for the initiative.
Mr. William Azuh, a former Head, African Section, Subdivision for Maritime Development at the International Maritime Organisation, described the meeting as timely and a bold step towards maritime training development for member countries and beyond.
