... Local operators seek recognition pathway for Nigerian diving schools
Nigerian commercial diving stakeholders have called on the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) to deepen engagement with local training institutions and establish a clearer pathway for qualified Nigerian diving schools to meet internationally recognised training and certification requirements.
The call dominated discussions in Lagos on Thursday during a visit by IMCA officials, which brought together regulators, commercial diving professionals, training institutions and other stakeholders to examine barriers limiting the development and international acceptance of Nigeria’s diving capacity.
Stakeholders maintained that Nigeria already possesses considerable commercial diving expertise and training infrastructure, but needs stronger engagement with international industry bodies to bridge gaps in certification, standardisation and recognition.
A major focus of the meeting was how Nigerian training institutions could demonstrate compliance with internationally accepted requirements and gain access to recognised certification and professional development pathways.
Speaking with the media, IMCA Chief Executive Officer, Iain Grainger, acknowledged diver training as one of the challenges facing the industry and said closer engagement with Nigerian professional bodies and training institutions would form part of the association’s next steps.
“Yesterday, we spent time talking to the next generation of talent, to make them aware and interested in joining the industry. I think the next step is about starting to work together with the local members and local trade associations to identify exactly what the challenges are. We know that one of the challenges for the future of this industry is in the training of divers.
“So, we want to work together with the local trade associations and the local training establishments, and understand how we can fix this problem. That is really where I think the next stage of the engagement has to go - understanding the challenges and working together to address them.”
Nigeria’s Chief Inspector of Diving, Julius Ugwala, said Nigerian diving schools were capable of meeting IMCA-prescribed requirements and should be given the opportunity to undergo the necessary assessment rather than leaving Nigerian divers dependent on foreign institutions for qualifications required for some international offshore operations.
Ugwala said closer cooperation between IMCA and Nigerian institutions could strengthen industry standards without compromising internationally accepted benchmarks.
He maintained that the objective was not to lower standards for Nigerian institutions, but to create a credible process through which local schools could demonstrate competence in areas including training systems, facilities, instructors, equipment, safety procedures, quality assurance and competence assessment.
Senator Gbenga Daniel, who represented the Senate President at the meeting, pledged legislative support for measures capable of attracting investment and advancing the professional development of Nigeria’s diving industry.
Daniel said the National Assembly was interested in creating conditions that would enable investors to succeed, describing diving as “a noble profession” with significant economic potential.
Representing the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Director of Occupational Health, Florence Owie, said government’s priority was to ensure that commercial diving operations were conducted under conditions that protected divers and other personnel working in hazardous underwater environments.
She stressed the importance of proper training, competent personnel, appropriate equipment and compliance with occupational safety requirements, noting that standards could only be effective when properly implemented, monitored and enforced.
Retired Rear Admiral Joseph Ake said Nigeria already possessed significant commercial diving capacity and should build on that advantage by strengthening indigenous training, competence and professional standards.
He said developing local capability would expand Nigerian participation in the sector and reduce dependence on foreign expertise and training, while insisting that such capacity must be developed within recognised safety and operational frameworks.
IMCA’s Africa Lead, Mary Ntamark, placed the Nigerian discussions within a broader continental context, saying the association was seeking deeper engagement with African stakeholders to better understand challenges confronting the offshore and commercial diving industry.
She stressed the importance of collaboration among operators, professional bodies and training institutions in building sustainable African capacity and improving the ability of practitioners to compete in the global offshore market.
Other stakeholders said strengthening internationally credible local training could reduce the cost of overseas training, deepen indigenous participation and position Nigeria as a stronger hub for commercial diving and subsea expertise in Africa.
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s major offshore oil and gas markets, generating significant demand for commercial diving services, including underwater inspection, construction, maintenance and repair.
