APM Terminals Apapa grooms young female maritime professionals

APM Terminals Apapa said is collaborating with Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF) to host secondary school students on a career seminar as part of efforts to groom the next generation of maritime professionals.

The programme, which is in recognition of the Children’s Day celebration, is expected to be held on Thursday, May 30th.

Tagged the Blue Talents School to Sea Programme, a project of OAF which encourages the training of young female students on export procedures including processing, packaging, warehousing, quality and the supply value chain.

Frederik Klinke, CEO of APM Terminals Nigeria, said it was important for the terminal to partner with the OAF in developing future maritime professionals.

“The FG has identified the maritime sector as a pivotal area of focus. The development of a National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy is a sign of its commitment to creating an enabling environment that supports and promotes growth.

“As a responsible organisation, we can also support the FG’s initiative by grooming the next generation of maritime professionals who would run this sector efficiently, ensuring its contribution to the national economy,” he said.

He added that such collaborations between all stakeholders in the industry would hasten development of the maritime sector which in turn would translate into a vibrant economy for the country.

Steen Knudsen, terminal manager of APM Terminals Apapa, described the collaboration as a way of giving back to society.

Omolara Olatunbosun, senior people business partner at APM Terminals Apapa, said the programme is of great importance to the terminal due to its focus on grooming female maritime professionals.

“It is focused on the girl child. As a business, we support the growth of women, hence our mentoring programme for our female employees. We have also recruited women into roles previously held by men. We hope to kindle the interest of the girl child in this sector through sensitisation,” she said.

Olaitan Williams, president of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, lauded the management of the terminal for collaborating with OAF for this year’s Children’s Day Blue Talent School to Sea career day.

“APM Terminals Apapa’s gesture shows that 60 percent of Nigeria’s youth population have a future in the supply chain sub-sector. It also indicates that they are willing to play their role in the nation’s progress and growth by aligning with the Federal government’s agenda for the Marine and Blue Economy ministry,” she said.

OAF is a Catch Them Young NGO with a grassroots approach in the maritime supply chain; and a special provision for the Girl Child who is underrepresented in the naval space.