The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has restated its commitment to prioritizing human capital development in its plans with a view to building a strong and well-skilled workforce required to male Nigeria’s seaports among the most competitive globally in terms of operational efficiency and service delivery.
The Managing Director/CEO of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, made the pledge on Monday during his speech at the inaugural ‘National Mentoring Day 2025’ event in Lagos, underscoring his management’s belief that the NPA’s greatest asset lies in its people, not just in infrastructure or technology.
Dantsoho, who was represented at the forum by the Authority’s Executive Director of Finance & Administration, Ms. Vivian Richard‑Edet, said the occasion marked an important milestone in the organization’s sustained commitment to nurturing future leaders and promoting knowledge transfer.
According to him, boosting the nation’s maritime economy performance required a skilled manpower, complemented by a strong infrastructure and technology assets
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Dantsoho said: “This occasion marks an important milestone in our commitment to nurturing future leaders, promoting knowledge transfer, and institutionalizing a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
“As an organization at the heart of Nigeria’s maritime economy, we recognize that our true strength lies not only in infrastructure and technology, but more importantly, in our people.
“The young professionals serving here under the National Youth Service Corps are not just temporary participants; you represent the next wave of innovators, administrators, and change agents who will shape the future of the maritime sector and, by extension, our national economy”, he added.
The National Mentoring Day, which is being marked globally on 27 October each year following its founding in 2014 and formal inauguration in 2016, encourages widespread participation to give everyone equal opportunity to reach their potential.
The NMD aligns with the United Nation’s SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by using mentorship to foster inclusion and dismantle barriers.
The NPA’s celebration of the Day on Monday featured interactive sessions, panel discussions, and a mentorship fair, all of which were aimed at strengthening internal capacity, enhancing employee engagement, and embedding sustainability into the Authority’s core operations.
