By Steve Agbota
The Chief Executive Officer of Employment Clinic, Ronke Kosoko, has unveiled a Maritime Conversion Programme (MCP), which is designed to introduce Nigerian graduates to the maritime sector and improving career prospects with the intention of generating 5000 jobs.
Kosoko who spoke in Lagos said that the MCP, which has gotten the backing of the government, would give support and connect no less than 5000 Nigerian graduates with the right employers in the industry who can engage them in non-technical aspects of the shipping.
According to her, women would be given adequate percentage under MCP, adding 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 who also congratulated Nigerian President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his recent electoral victory, charging him to make maritime industry the fulcrum of his administration’s economic policy . Kosoko also congratulated Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on his re-election.
She implored the President-elect Tinubu to appoint qualified Nigerians to head government agencies in the industry and also address myriad of problems that mitigate the growth of the industry which, she said, was capable of addressing youth unemployment in the country.
“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.
“The Lagos State 30 years Masterplan launched in 2022 can’t work without maritime. It is important for the Lagos State government to pay more attention to provision of infrastructure that can aid the growth of the industry in the state,” Kosoko advised.