The Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) has commenced high-level discussions with the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) aimed at formalizing a strategic partnership to advance maritime education, training, and regional capacity development.
The meeting, held at LiMA’s headquarters in Monrovia on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, brought together senior officials from both institutions to explore collaboration opportunities that will enhance professional development for cadets, lecturers, and maritime administrators in Liberia and Nigeria.
Delivering opening remarks on behalf of the Commissioner/CEO of LiMA, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., the Principal Director for Corporate Affairs, John B. Cuffey, welcomed the Nigerian delegation and reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to building durable and mutually beneficial partnerships across West Africa.
“We see this engagement as a strategic step toward strengthening maritime education and professional excellence within our region,” Cuffey stated. “Our shared vision is to create structured pathways for collaboration that will benefit our cadets, faculty, and the broader maritime industry.”
Discussions centered on four principal areas, including joint academic collaboration that would see both countries sharing curricula, instructional materials, and faculty exchanges between MAN and the Liberian Maritime Training Institute (LMTI) to strengthen institutional capacity that align with international standards; student and lecturer exchange programs through structured exchange initiatives, internships, and scholarship opportunities designed to promote cross-border learning and exposure; and admission and academic mobility that would serve as pathways for Liberian cadets to gain admission to MAN, including recognition of qualifications and credit transfer arrangements.
Representatives of the both countries gave deliberate consideration to the prospect of shipboard training opportunities that seek to place MAN trained cadets aboard Liberian-flagged vessels to acquire hands-on training in maritime safety, law, and vessel operations in compliance with international conventions.
Both parties expressed optimism about drafting and signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will formalize the partnership, outlining governance structures, responsibilities, funding considerations, and measurable outcomes to ensure sustainability.
Responding on behalf of MAN, Engineer Kehinde Akinola, Chairman of the Governing Council, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to deepening regional integration in line with broader West African cooperation goals.
He acknowledged Liberia’s global leadership in ship registry and underscored the value of collaboration between MAN, LiMA, and Nigeria’s maritime institutions in building world-class maritime professionals for the continent.
Dr. Kevin Okonna, Acting Registrar of MAN did an elaborate presentation on the current state of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in terms of its capacity and potentials it holds that makes it a suitable partner institution that Liberia can beneficially collaborate with on maritime training in West Africa.
The engagement signals a new chapter in maritime cooperation between Liberia and Nigeria, positioning both nations to play a stronger role in advancing maritime education, safety, and sustainable development within Africa and beyond.
