The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has secured a significant scholarship fund of $1.3 million from the Indonesian government aimed at enhancing maritime training for 96 beneficiaries from member states. This initiative, confirmed by MOWCA Secretary General Dr. Paul Adalikwu, provides an opportunity for seafarers in the region through two distinct training programs, ensuring equitable access across the organization’s member states.
The training will consist of two primary courses: a “Training of Trainers” (TOT) based on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) model course 6.09, which focuses on instructor training in maritime disciplines, and a course for “Assessment, Examination and Certification of Seafarers” tied to IMO model course 3.12. This latter course targets personnel involved in seafarer certification processes and assessments onboard maritime vessels.
Provisional dates for the courses have been set, with four batches of 24 participants each. The first TOT program is scheduled from October 11 to 26, 2025, and the second from November 1 to 16, 2025. For the certification course, the first batch will be from October 18 to November 2, 2025, and the second from November 15 to 30, 2025.
Dr. Adalikwu emphasized that the objective of these training initiatives is to ensure that Certificates of Competence issued to seafarers in the MOWCA region comply with the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. Importantly, the scholarships will cover all associated costs, including transportation, accommodation, tuition fees, and per diems for participants in the TOT program.
In addition to raising the competency levels of seafarers, the initiative also engages MOWCA ministers in charge of maritime transport, who have been informed about the eligibility criteria and the opportunity for their respective countries. Drug-free confirmation tests will be required for applicants, and ministers have been urged to submit their candidates by September 15, 2025.
This human capacity development effort marks a significant step forward for MOWCA under Dr. Adalikwu’s leadership, aiming to boost maritime competence in the region. Furthermore, key educational institutions such as the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Ghana, the Regional Academy of Science and Technology of the Sea (ARSTM), and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron will also benefit from this scholarship initiative, widening the impact of this collaboration between Indonesia and MOWCA.
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