*We Have Equipped Them For President Tinubu's Blue Economy Policy ? Otuaro

Ninety-eight maritime delegates sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme for a boot camp and a refresher course in specialised maritime-related skills at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Otomewo, Delta State, have completed their training.

A formal close-out ceremony for the 98 PAP maritime cadets was held on Tuesday at the institute's premises to mark their graduation from the rigorous one-month vocational training.

Speaking at the event, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, said their deployment for the exercise was part of the PAP's manpower and human resources development schemes for the Niger Delta.

He described the training as strategic, stressing that it was aimed at equipping the maritime cadets with the requisite skills for the country's maritime industry that was anchored on President Bola Tinubu's policy on the blue economy.

Otuaro said, "I am very delighted that you have successfully completed your boot camp and refresher course. It is another significant milestone that underscores the commitment of the PAP under my leadership towards developing the requisite manpower and human capital for the Niger Delta.

"Manpower and human resources development are critical to the economic growth and development of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

"More importantly, your training in specialised maritime-related skills is very strategic. It aligns with the policy of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the blue economy to harness the massive opportunities in the nation's maritime industry for national development."

He lauded the President, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their unwavering support for the PAP and the region's economic growth, development and stability.

Otuaro said that his administration would strive to train more Niger Deltans in specialised vocational skills in diverse trade areas, formal education, post-training empowerment, among others, under the programme's reintegration template to foster sustainable peace in the region.

He congratulated the maritime cadets on the remarkable feat they had achieved, and advised them to explore the vast opportunities in the blue economy and maritime domain, which is their natural environment as Niger Deltans.

Otuaro also commended them for demonstrating high discipline throughout the duration of their training, urging them to show professionalism and competence which would help them when players in the maritime industry engage their services.

He also expressed appreciation to the management of the institute for justifying the confidence reposed in them with the thorough and professional handling of the maritime cadets' training.

The MD/CEO of Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research, Akpos Epidei, thanked the PAP administrator for believing in their ability to carry out the training and made recommendations for higher certification programmes for the maritime cadets in the near future.

In his goodwill message, the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, who was represented by one of his aides, Amafini Akemeotubo, praised Otuaro for refocusing the programme for better service delivery to the Niger Delta people.

A valedictorian of the successful maritime cadets, Ebi Jackson, expressed gratitude to the PAP administrator for the boot camp and refresher course, adding that they benefited greatly from the exercise.

The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of awards/certificates to the 98 maritime cadets by the PAP boss.

PHOTO: Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro (left), presents a certificate to Confidence Emmanuel during the boot camp/refresher course graduation ceremony for 98 PAP maritime cadets at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research Otomewo, Delta State, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

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