By Sylva OBASI
The Centre for Marine Surveyors in Nigeria has inducted 40 new members into its professional body, even as it also honoured some best graduating students with awards of academic excellence at the completion of their Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) program offered in collaboration with the Niger-Delta University (NDU).
At a Students Luncheon and Induction ceremony held today in Lagos for its 2023 pioneer students, the President of CMSN, Engr Akin Olaniyan warmly welcomed participants, inductees and guests to the occasion, while also highlighting the significance of the event to the growth of marine surveying in Nigeria.
According to him, “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the CMSN Pioneer Students Luncheon: Membership Induction and Award Ceremony. Today, we celebrate a remarkable milestone-the achievements of our pioneer students, who have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Marine Surveying, in collaboration with Niger Delta University (NDU).
“This event is especially significant because, in addition to honoring their academic excellence, we also induct these students as full members of CMSN, marking their entry into our professional community dedicated to excellence, integrity, and growth in marine surveying.
“To our pioneer students: your hard work and dedication have brought you here. As you take your place among CMSN members, remember that you are now part of a network committed to advancing professionalism and contributing positively to the maritime industry.
Speaking further, the CMSN President who doubles as the CEO of AFT Technologies Ltd also appreciated partners, supporters and guests present at the occasion, thanking them for using their presence to encourage young professionals and strengthen shared mission of capacity development in the maritime sector.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Pioneer National Coordinator, CMSN, Capt Dr Fola Ojutalayo explained that the core reason for establishing the Centre and originating a PGD program in Marine Surveying in collaboration with the Niger-Delta University is to train young surveyors who would take up marine surveying jobs which is currently dominated by foreigners.
He hinted that the PGD program in Marine Surveying run by the Centre is the only available one in the whole of West Africa, adding that the program would create jobs for our teaming youths, end capital flights and also grow the Nigerian economy while building capacity and professional competence of Nigerians in the field of marine surveying.
He also assured the new inductees of job opportunies, promising that the Centre would refer jobs to them to enable them put their professional knowledge to practical use. Hence he urged them to expect such offers and be ready to execute them excellently when they come.
Meanwhile, in his advice to the inductees, the President of Nigerian Association of Master Mariner (NAMM) and Council member of CMSN, Capt Tajudeen Alao admonished the new members to imbibe the culture of honesty and integrity as ethics of the profession while carrying out their jobs as professionals.
Recounted with regrets some previous experiences during the oil importation regime where a vessel carrying 50 million litres of fuel would declare to tank farms that it’s carrying 100 million and some unprofessional elements working as surveyors in the tank farms would sign and by so doing put the companies, the banks and the economy in jeopardy.
He explained that the industry is yet to recover from the economic impacts of the nefarious activities of such charlatans masquerading as marine surveyors, adding that a well trained professional who knows the ethics of the profession won’t do such.
The seasoned master mariner, however urged the new inductees to be worthy ambassadors of the professional body.
Also in his remarks, the National Vice President of CMSN, Engr Cookey Iroegbu Anthony enumerated the aims and objectives of the Centre to include opening up the industry for more job opportunities for Nigerians in areas of wet cargo surveying, dry cargo surveying, underwater surveying, port facilities surveying, electrical or electronic systems surveying and so on.
He added that the Centre aims to train professionals in marine surveying sector, create jobs, and ensure Nigerians play actively in marine surveying sub-sector which is currently dominated by foreigners.
Engr Iroegbu further assured the inductees that the Centre would continue to provide necessary support to them as they go about carrying out their professional duties in the sector.
PLATFORM REPORTERS gathered that some of the best graduating students honoured at the occasion with awards and cash prizes includes: AKERELE, Olawale Olayinka best male graduating student; Lola Olabanjo best female graduating student.
For the Distinction category, we have
Ebikeme Apere and ISIAYEI, Bereton Stevenson, while Sunday Olawale Paul clinched the Leadership Award
Winners in outstanding female students category are Lola Olabanjo and Uchacha Esther Biobele.
Meanwhile, highlights of the event were induction of about 40 new members, presentation of awards and cash prizes to best graduating PDG students, presentation of professional certificates to the graduates as well as a networking session during the luncheon.
Some of the graduate inductees who spoke to our correspondence after the occasion testified that the training is already opening doors of opportunities for them in their current places of work.
