The former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo is urging the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola to speed up the development of the proposed Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State, adding that: “This facility has the potential to significantly boost blue tourism in the BRACED region.”
According to Dr Kiyaramo, the centre will not only contribute to the growth of blue tourism but also promote sustainable tourism practices and create job opportunities while fostering community engagement and participation.
“This aligns with NIMASA’s commitment to introducing educational and skills acquisition programmes for coastal communities, as seen in their efforts to establish skill acquisition centres across the country’s six geo-political zones, including Bayelsa State,” He said.
Dr Kiyaramo who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday emphasized that the game-changing potential of the proposed NIMASA Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State, highlighted its role in revolutionizing blue tourism in the state, reiterating that “This cutting-edge facility is poised to make a significant impact by boosting blue tourism.
According to him, the centre will contribute to the socio-economic growth and unlock the state’s vast maritime potential, just as it would promote sustainable tourism practices, fostering eco-friendly tourism practices that prioritize environmental conservation and community well-being.
“The facility will no doubt create job opportunities, empower local youths with skills and knowledge, generate employment, stimulate economic growth, foster community engagement, encourage active community participation, while promoting cultural exchange and preservation Bayelsa’s rich maritime heritage.
“The oceans, the pulsing heartbeat of the Blue Economy, hold the key to unlocking real wealth and resolving the crises that plague our lands. The maritime sector, with its vast potential, offers solutions to the challenges we face as a purely maritime state, reminding us that the answers to our problems lie hidden beneath the waves.
“By establishing this skills acquisition centre in Bayelsa State, NIMASA would have taken a proactive step towards harnessing the immense potential of Nigeria’s maritime sector, aligning with the agency’s vision to equip Nigerian youths with requisite skills for self-dependence and tackling the challenges of the blue economy,” Gov. Diri’s former aide maintained.
The Chairman of BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, praised Comrade George Wilcox, Executive Chairman of Abade-Toru Mangal Community Development Initiative, for his tireless efforts in pursuing the establishment of the Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre in Bayelsa State. Specifically, he noted that Wilcox’s determination in involving the National Assembly to hold NIMASA accountable for the centre’s development is commendable.
Dr Kiyaramo’s appreciation for Wilcox’s efforts underscores the importance of collaboration and advocacy in driving development projects forward. The Maritime Skills Acquisition Centre is expected to play a significant role in promoting blue tourism in the BRACED region, creating job opportunities, and fostering community engagement.
As the Chairman of BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, Dr Kiyaramo has been a strong advocate for tourism development in the South-South region of Nigeria. His organization aims to promote the region as a bloc destination globally, highlighting its rich tourism prospects.
