The Liberia Maritime Authority (LMA) is charting a transformative course to address unemployment and reinforce its maritime supremacy through significant investment in human resource development.
In an exclusive discussion with Oracle News Daily, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Leighe, the Commissioner of LMA, detailed strategic plans designed to boost local talent capacity and elevate Liberia’s maritime workforce.
As the second-largest ship registry globally and the leader in tonnage, Liberia’s maritime prowess is already notable, but the LMA believes that enhancing human capital is essential for sustaining this dominance.
“The most important thing is to build the capacity of a lot of Liberians,” Leighe said. “If we don’t take advantage of it, we risk having non-Liberians running our maritime programs.”
Currently, the LMA is preparing to host the 31st session of the Board of Governors of the Regional Maritime University, which includes Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Ghana, and The Gambia, from November 4 to 8.
This gathering aims to review the university’s operations and propose policy improvements, presenting a prime opportunity for the LMA to solicit support for upgrading the Liberia Maritime Institute.
Historically, Liberia has faced challenges related to low enrollment numbers in maritime education. However, Lighe revealed a renewed focus on increasing student registration, now exceeding 30, reflecting a commitment to cultivating a skilled workforce ready for maritime careers.
Plans for the future include upgrading the Liberian Maritime Training Institute, which will offer bachelor’s degrees with pathways for students to pursue master’s degrees at the Regional Maritime University.
“Empowering more Liberians is crucial,” emphasized Lighe.
“When we took over, we met a limited number of students. Based on the advice of the President, we decided to increase the number of enrollments. The more Liberians you have in the sector, the more remittances the country receives.”
These remittances significantly contribute to economic growth and family welfare, directly impacting unemployment rate, Â he said.
The LMA’s initiatives not only aim to enhance local expertise but also to solidify Liberia’s position as a leading player in the global maritime arena, ensuring that its citizens reap the benefits of the country’s maritime assets.
Liberian flagged ships control 97 percent of vessels registered in West African nations and 91 percent of vessels registered in the continent in 2024; Nigerian flagged ships control 1.4 percent in West Africa and 1.3 percent in the continent; Gabon controls 1.3 percent in both the sub-region and the continent as well while Sierra Leone flagged ships controls about 0.6 percent in both West African sub-region and the continent.
The United Nations Trade and Development’s annual merchant fleet by flag of registration and type of ship shows that a total of 419,821 ships are registered in the West African sub-region representing 94 percent of the 447,885 ships that are currently registered in Africa in 2024.
By Festus Poquie and E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
