By John Ndegwa / BMA
Skilled professionals and trainees from Nandi County have been encouraged to explore opportunities in maritime education and training as Bandari Maritime Academy (BMA) intensifies efforts to expand access to employment opportunities in the maritime and Blue Economy sectors.
The call was made during a courtesy visit by BMA Senior Business Development and Marketing Officer, Fatma Mzee, to Kaiboi National Polytechnic Principal, Tiony Abdi Kirwa, at his office. The meeting focused on potential collaboration to equip skilled professionals from the institution with the additional competencies and certifications required to pursue careers in the maritime industry.
During the engagement, Mzee highlighted the diverse career opportunities available in the maritime sector, emphasizing that employment is not limited to seafarers and marine engineers. She noted that skilled professionals, including plumbers, hospitality practitioners, nurses and other technical and service personnel, can explore opportunities aboard ships and within the wider maritime industry, subject to relevant qualifications, certification and regulatory requirements.
She underscored the importance of linking technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions with specialized maritime training to enable graduates to diversify their career pathways, enhance their employability and tap into the growing demand for skilled personnel in the global maritime industry.
Mzee further encouraged Kaiboi National Polytechnic to explore opportunities for collaboration with Bandari Maritime Academy in creating awareness of maritime career pathways and guiding trainees on the relevant training programmes and certification requirements.
On his part, Principal Tiony Abdi Kirwa said the engagement was an eye opener especially for the skilled professionals.
Through partnerships with TVET institutions, BMA seeks to bridge the gap between technical skills and industry requirements, opening up new opportunities for graduates to participate in the maritime sector and contribute to the growth of Kenya’s Blue Economy.
