The P&H Nova Group, a prominent player in Nigeria’s maritime sector, has advocated regular training programs for stevedores and significant upgrades to handling equipment at Nigerian ports.
The Group also identified the importance of regular training, equipment maintenance, and safety compliance as key factors in enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of Nigerian ports.
This call to action was made during a media interaction with Prince Hillary Anekwe, Chairman of P&H Nova Development and Procurement Limited at the end of a staff training program, titled; “Effective Maritime Personnel Operations Workshop,” held at the company’s office in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Group, Prince Hillary Anekwe explained the necessity of regular training for port operators.
He emphasised that many employees often lack a comprehensive understanding of their company’s operations.
“It is quite common that many companies, when you go into their offices and interview their workers, you will find out that almost 50 or 60 per cent of workers don’t know what the company does. They are only interested in their salary. But we make it mandatory that people working with us have to know what we’re doing,” he added.
While detailing the broad spectrum of business activities undertaken by P&H Nova Group, he said: “We are actively involved in the purchasing and supply of handling equipment, and we also sell to port operators both in Nigeria and abroad.
“Our goal is to ensure that these operators have access to the best quality equipment needed to enhance their operations.”
“Apart from the equipment, we supply high-quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to ensure the safety of port workers. We have partnerships with several companies in Asia known for producing top-tier PPE products,” he said.
Prince Hillary also discussed the importance of training in their business model.
“We don’t just supply equipment; we also offer comprehensive training services for port workers on how to operate and maintain these handling equipment. It’s crucial that they understand not only how to use the equipment but also how to keep it in good working condition,” he stated.
While highlighting the importance of training programs, he said that they help cultivate a more knowledgeable and motivated workforce.
“We believe bringing in more professional people to lecture the port workers is important” he said, expressing his satisfaction with the workshop’s proceedings,” he added.