Frederik Klinke, country chief executive officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, has encouraged secondary school students to take an interest in the maritime sector to build rewarding careers.
Klinke, while speaking at APM Terminals Apapa, Lagos recently during a career seminar on the maritime industry, as part of activities marking the 2024 Children’s Day, said the industry offers exciting career opportunities for the future generation.
He encouraged the students to embrace hard work and diligence.
He said APM Terminals hosted the career summit as its contribution to grooming the next generation of maritime professionals to run the sector efficiently, ensuring its contribution to the national economy.
Read also: APM Terminals Apapa grooms young female maritime professionals
Also speaking, Steen Knudsen, terminal manager of APM Terminals Apapa, commended the students for visiting the terminal and participating in the career summit.
He said APM Terminals has a high number of female workers despite the maritime industry being male-dominated.
He encouraged the students to become curious, open to opportunities, and not be afraid to try new things.
Olaitan Williams, president of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF), appreciated APM Terminals for the partnership, hospitality, and facility provided for the seminar.
She said Nigeria has a long coastline capable of creating millions of jobs for the students if only they discover where they fit in.
She enjoined the students to dream big and be futuristic in their career endeavours.
Ibrahim Adepoju, a logistics expert, educated the students on the Cabotage Act and the Local Content Act, which he said opens up huge career and investment opportunities for Nigerians.
He said there are many areas the students can venture into in the maritime industry including maritime law, marine engineering, accounting, insurance, and many others.
Achenyo Obaro of MitiMeth, another speaker, educated the students on producing dining wares, art decor, stationery, gifts, and fashion accessories from harvested water hyacinth.
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“Water hyacinths seen as waste and a challenge to navigation on inland waterways can be transformed into beautiful artefacts. We have reached over 150 communities in Nigeria to get them involved in this project to create job opportunities,” she said.
Albert Akerele, a ship surveyor, also educated the students on various facets of the maritime sector, assuring them of immense career opportunities.
The students, drawn from various secondary schools in Lagos, were taken on a tour of the terminal where they saw container ships at berth and cargo handling operations. They expressed appreciation to APM Terminals for hosting the career summit.
The event, tagged ‘Blue Talents School-to-Sea Program,’ was organised by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation and APM Terminals Apapa to mark the 2024 Children’s Day.
