Nigeria’s drive to transform its vast inland waterways into a thriving engine of economic growth has gained fresh international momentum, as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, intensified efforts to secure global partnerships capable of reshaping the country’s maritime future.
On the sidelines of the ongoing International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council Meeting in London, Shagari held a strategic meeting with the President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., aimed at fostering collaboration in maritime education, research, capacity building and sustainable inland waterways development.
Leading the Acting Managing Director of NIWA, Yusuf Girei, to the high-level engagement, Shagari reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to modernising its inland waterways infrastructure and building a skilled workforce that can unlock the enormous opportunities within the nation’s Blue Economy.
He noted that Nigeria’s extensive network of rivers and inland waterways remains one of the country’s most valuable but underutilised assets, with the potential to revolutionise transportation, stimulate commerce, enhance regional connectivity and create thousands of jobs.
According to the NIWA Board Chairman, achieving these ambitions requires strategic partnerships with globally respected maritime institutions that can provide technical expertise, innovation and world-class training.
Shagari stressed that collabora·tion with the World Maritime University would strengthen research, knowledge exchange and professional development, equipping Nigerian maritime professionals with the competencies needed to tackle emerging industry challenges while aligning with international best practices.
He further explained that the Federal Government’s vision of safer, more efficient and commercially viable inland waterways can only be sustained through continuous investment in human capital development and institutional cooperation.
Responding, Professor Maximo Q. Mejia Jr. applauded Nigeria’s renewed commitment to advancing its maritime sector and reaffirmed the World Maritime University’s readiness to support member states through education, research and capacity-building initiatives.
The WMU President emphasised that long-term growth in the maritime industry depends on sustained investments in human capital, innovation and strict adherence to international standards. He expressed the University’s willingness to deepen collaboration with Nigerian maritime institutions to strengthen the country’s maritime administration and inland waterways management.
Beyond discussions on education and research, both leaders explored opportunities for specialised training programmes, academic exchanges and institutional partnerships designed to accelerate reforms across Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
Maritime stakeholders described the meeting as a significant step towards connecting Nigeria’s inland waterways with global centres of excellence, noting that stronger international cooperation would enhance safety, operational efficiency and sustainable growth across the country’s water transport system.
The engagement formed part of a series of high-level bilateral meetings taking place during the IMO Council session in London, where maritime leaders from around the world are shaping policies and initiatives aimed at promoting safer, more secure and environmentally sustainable shipping.
For Nigeria, the meeting represents more than a diplomatic engagement. It reflects a strategic commitment to leveraging global expertise to unlock the full potential of its inland waterways, positioning the sector as a catalyst for economic diversification, improved transportation and sustainable national development.
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