IMO’s support for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building in Africa highlighted at 3rd conference of AAMA
IMO says its support for knowledge-sharing and capacity-building in Africa was highlighted at the 3rd conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), in Abuja, Nigeria (19-21 April). Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, IMO’s William Azuh said IMO was committed to helping achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Shipping and ports can play a significant role in helping create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability through promoting maritime trade, he said. He noted that, in Africa, the importance of the port sector extends beyond the borders of African coastal States, as ports also serve the trade and contribute to the socio-economic development of landlocked African countries.
The conference was organized by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in collaboration with IMO. During the meeting, the 32 participating African Maritime Administrations agreed to develop an integrated human-resource strategy for the maritime sector taking into account gender balance in the entire sector.
The AAMA also agreed to institutionalise and observe 25 July of every year as Africa's Day of the Seas and Oceans. The day will be dedicated to outreach programmes highlighting the importance of maritime activities and shipping to the economy and well-being of all African countries. The 4th conference of AAMA will be hosted by Egypt in 2018, with IMO’s support. The IMO team attending the 3rd conference included Mr Azuh and Amr Hussein from IMO Headquarters and the three regional coordinators based in Africa: Honorat Hoba, west and central Africa(Francophone), based in Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire; Dallas Laryea, west and central Africa (Anglophone), based in Accra, Ghana; and Purity Thirimu, Eastern and Southern Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
