THE IMPACT OF TRAINING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARITIME INDUSTRY

1.1 Introduction

Manpower training plays significant role in guaranteeing that the predetermined goals of the maritime industry are achieved. This is important because the maritime industry consists of individuals who are major instrument that delivers maritime services. The maritime industry requires full development of capacities such as human capacity, infrastructures, technology, and integrated transport system and among others. Developing local manpower in the Nigerian maritime industry is of great importance due to the position of the industry in the national economy. Every economic activity in any nation is directly or indirectly linked with the activities in the maritime sector. It is widely believed that knowledge, in terms of human and social capital, is the main production factor in today’s economic environment (Almeida et al., 2014).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

The major objective of every organization, whether private or public, is to improve its productivity, and this achievement to a great extent is determined by the abilities and competencies of its workforce. Responsible organizations recognize that human resources are their main resource in achieving the desired objectives. Consequently, workers must be equipped and trained adequately to ensure that their knowledge, skills, and abilities facilitate the attainment of organizational goals and objectives.

According to Onah (2003), He affirmed that manpower training is the premise of all other resources utilized in production and therefore an indispensable factor in converting other resources to the benefit of mankind. In this way, how well we prepare a worker is central to choosing the amount we will fulfil our dreams as a country. Therefore, manpower training should be an integral part of every organization. This is because manpower training enhances employee productivity, thereby contributing significantly to the achievement of the organizational objectives (Banjoko, 2011).

To validate this assertion, Singh and Mohanty, (2012), posit that training is a central and powerful instrument for the effective attainment of organizational objectives and goals, resulting in greater productivity. As such, the accomplishment of an organization to a great extent relies on the capabilities and skills of the employees at the administrative and lower levels of the organization and such capacities and ability for the most part originate from the knowledge and training they receive (Dialoke,etal., 2016). Also, training is fundamental in view of the evolving technology; the automated work environment; the rapid transformation in administrative settings, accompanied by the demands of diversity management as hallmarks and symbols of globalization. The role of personnel training is inevitable, as many organizations have come to realize that training remains the only medium for increasing abilities, improving productivity, ensuring the retention of work standard and enhancing employee’s allegiance to the organization (Dialoke, etal., 2016).

The maritime industry which is a sub-sector of the transport sector, accounts for nearly 90 percent of transport requirement of the world Ikokide and Aro (2000). Maritime industries include all enterprises engaged in the business of designing, constructing, manufacturing, acquiring, operating, supplying, repairing and/or maintaining vessels, or component parts thereof: of managing and/or operating shipping lines, and customs brokerage services, shipyards, dry docks, marine railways, marine repair shops, shipping and freight forwarding services and similar port side enterprises (Purba, 2015).

One of the most prominent problems facing the transport industry is the lack of adequate human resource development or manpower development to service the industry Okeudo and Ogwude (2012). They further opined that, the human factor is the most sensitive and volatile of all factors of input in production and therefore requires proper handling so that the other factor inputs can be properly harnessed to the utmost advantage of all in the industry.

Currently, the present state of Nigerian maritime industry in relation to human capacity affects its productivity, policies, principles, standards and practices. The human capacity development in the industry is appalling in such a way that, the industry record results such as increase in ship-turnaround time, congestion due to complexity in documentations, poor stevedoring activities, high port charges, foreign dominations, and pilferages and among others. These could be as a result of absent of adequate manpower to critically organize and harmonize the process of ship calling at port and its departure. Developing efficient manpower in the industry is paramount to tackle the problems confronting the industry especially the work of unprofessional and encouraging the employment of our locally trained professionals from our local institutions to take control of the industry as stipulated in the cabotage policy enacted in 2003 (Ikokide and Aro, 2000).

It is also to note that, in maritime industry, human capacity development and capacity building are important in the areas of manning, ownership and operations of ships in cabotage trade, Without the acquisition of a ship, a local operator would not be able to build local capacity in the art of Technology transfer, and also in the technicality and management of ships, Government under the administrations of NPA, NIMASA need to encourage the training of maritime workers locally in our institutions in the practice of shipping and genuinely implement the Cabotage Act (Ndikom, 2004).

Several factors affects cabotage vessels finance fund in Nigeria. Among which are; lack of specification of designated amount meant for the Cabotage Vessels Finance Fund as captured in “the Fund”. This gives room for gross administrative anomaly. Secondly , commercial banks, which are the depositories to the Cabotage Vessels Finance Fund (see Part V111 Section 44) lack proper understanding of shipping industry and thus incapacitated to providing investment and financial advice for the investors. Thirdly, foreign bankers on their part always still cite inadequate collaterals (Ekpo, 2012), together with socio-political instabilities, as impediments to loaning Nigerian shippers.

Also, the weak and inadequate financial starting point for the Cabotage Vessels Finance Fund by the government actually reveals some challenges. In this modern and competitive market of the emerging economies of the globe, how could Nigeria deem it fit, as captured by (Ajiye, 2013), to apportion mere twenty five million dollars ($25 Million) for development of shipping industry? It is simply a bad beginning for local content especially when there is still problem of misappropriation! To this end, the possibilities of accessing loans to support genuine stakeholders in the industry have been drastically made impossible by inadequate collaterals and other factors.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Impact of Training to the Development of the Maritime Industry.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that one of the most prominent problems facing the transport industry is the lack of adequate human resource development or manpower training development to service the industry (Okeudo and Ogwude, 2012).

They further opined that, the human factor is the most sensitive and volatile of all factors of input in production and therefore requires proper handling so that the other factor inputs can be properly harnessed to the utmost advantage of all in the industry.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Impact of Training to the Development of the Maritime Industry with specific reference to Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Apapa, Lagos State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine whether lack of adequate funding impact manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry;
2. To evaluate whether technological changes impact manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry; and
3. To find out whether knowledge based challenges impact manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• To what extent does lack of adequate funding impact manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry?
• What is the nature of relationship between technological changes and manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry?
• To what degree does knowledge based challenges impact manpower development in the Nigerian maritime industry?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: Lack of adequate funding does not have positively and significant impacts on manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.
• H1: Lack of adequate funding have positively and significant impacts on manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Technological changes do not significantly impact manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.
• H0: Technological changes significantly impact manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.

Hypothesis Three

• H0: Knowledge based challenges does not significantly impact manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.
• H1: Knowledge based challenges significantly impact manpower training development in the Nigerian maritime industry.

1.7 Significance of Study

The outcome of this study will enlighten the government of Nigeria and the general public on the spate of corruption going on in the maritime sector and how it affects the impact of training to the developing of Nigeria maritime industry. It will also educate on approaches to combat the menace of corruption in the maritime sector.

This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Impact of Training to the Development of the Maritime Industry. This study will cover the level of manpower maritime training, and how it impacts on the development of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Apapa, Lagos State.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).