FCFMT Matriculates 1,200 Students, Awaits NIMASA/IMO COC’s Approval

Oluchi Chibuzor

As Nigeria continues to build its fisheries and blue economy workforce, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology (FCFMT) has matriculated 1,200 students.

This, the college said, is part of the President Bola Tinubu initiative and directive to properly align the college to the newly created Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, bringing more visibility in the eyes of global fisheries and marine communities.

Speaking at the matriculation ceremony for the 2025/2026 session, the Provost, Dr Onuoha Chuks, said the number is a milestone for the college since its establishment.

“This is a marked departure from the low number of 298 students that matriculated in the 2019/2020 academic session when this administration came on board.

“Thanks to the college management for the passionate and diligent commitment in adopting not only the needed relevant strategies in improving the number and quality of academic programmes, but also the infrastructural facilities needed for them,” Chuks said.

He thanked President Tinubu for his initiative and directive to properly align the college to the newly created Marine and Blue Economy Ministry.

“This action has brought more visibility to the college in the eyes of global fisheries and maritime communities,” Chuks said.

He also thanked the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, for his immense support for the college in the short period of the ministry’s existence.

“The college is now getting the desired attention from relevant national and global maritime organisations, especially NIMASA and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO),” stated Chuks.

To further encourage academic excellence among students, the provost hinted at imminent approval from NIMASA/IMO for professional courses, to prevent students from seeking such training at exorbitant foreign-currency rates.

“The college has recently secured NIMASA/IMO approval of our ND, HND and professional programmes, with the final certification in view for our professional certificate programmes such as Certificate of Competency (COC), Certificate programmes in ECDISS, GMDSS, ARPA-RADAR, Resources Management, ship handling and manoeuvring using the newly acquired Full Mission Bridge Simulator Class A.

“The issue of most of our graduates travelling out of the country to write their COC’s at very exorbitant cost in foreign currency will be a thing of the past as soon as NIMASA certifies and accredits the use of our Full Mission Bridge Simulator for these programmes,” he said.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, MacDonald Ebere, said the institution remains a critical stakeholder in developing the sector’s skilled workforce.

“Nigeria is blessed with vast marine and inland water resources. Our oceans, rivers, and coastal ecosystems hold enormous potential for food security, employment, technological advancement, and economic growth. Institutions like the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology exist to unlock that potential through knowledge, innovation, and a skilled workforce,” he noted.

The college awarded one academic session scholarship to 14 students from different departments for the 2024/ 2025 session.

The provost pointed out that “this figure is a marked departure from the initial five students that benefitted during the inauguration year.”