National Ports Authority, IRIC sign agreement to boost training in maritime sector.

The Director General of NPA, Willie Tsanga Mba, signed for the port authority, while the Director of IRIC, H.E Daniel Urbain Ndongo, signed on behalf of the institute.

Through the agreement, National Ports Authority and IRIC have committed to building a meaningful, practical and sustainable partnership centred on a number of key priorities.

The priorities, according to National Ports Authority and IRIC, include developing applied research on port, maritime and logistics issues; strengthening the capacities of managers and staff of the National Port Authority; promoting the exchange of expertise between researchers, practitioners and professionals in the sector; and providing IRIC students with opportunities for work placements, mentoring and research projects tailored to the sector’s actual needs.

The Director of IRIC, H.E Daniel Urbain Ndongo, said the agreement lays the foundation for strategic and innovative cooperation between NPA and IRIC, adding that it is for the greater good for the two institutions.

He praised NPA’s Director General’s commitment in training of the institution’s staff, which, he said, demonstrates pledge to consolidate global changes in maritime trade and security and underlines the strategic importance NPA attaches to the green economy. 

“The signing of the agreement marks a historic milestone, which materialises a common vision to marry academic excellence and diplomacy and operational performance of our maritime and port sector,” H.E. Ndongo said.

He noted that green economy and port governance are veritable geostrategic levers. The Gulf of Guinea and Cameroonian port infrastructure, he stated, are at the heart of global trade.

“In the face of competitivity and maritime security, the National Ports Authority is in need of experts in comprehending international relations, maritime law, and trade negotiation,” he said, highlighting the importance of the win-win agreement, which will enable NPA staff to have access to high quality training at IRIC.

Some of the training, he disclosed, will include Masters in Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea, among others.

Enter NPA Director General

On his part, the Director General of National Ports Authority, Tsanga Mba, said the signing of the agreement is not a mere formality. 

“It marks the convergence of academic expertise and the practical requirements of port modernisation, economic competitiveness and regional integration,” he said.

Tsanga added that: “Under the strong leadership of His Excellency Paul Biya, President of the Republic, Cameroon is continuing its journey towards emergence, in accordance with the National Development Strategy 2020–2030. In this vision, infrastructure, human capital and good governance play a central role”.

“The port sector, given its strategic position at the heart of trade, requires new skills, enhanced expertise and a constant capacity for innovation. This is precisely the rationale behind our partnership with IRIC,” he stated.

He continued that: “Faced with the challenges of digital transformation, maritime safety, the green transition, improving the flow of logistics and economic diplomacy, we must train managers capable of thinking, anticipating and taking action”.

“In this regard, I welcome the launch by IRIC of the professional Master’s degree in Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea, FADROMER, which provides a relevant response to the current needs of maritime and port governance,” Tsanga added.

According to Tsanga: “This agreement must now be translated into visible, measurable and meaningful actions. Our ambition is clear: to make this partnership a driver of performance for NPA, a field of application for IRIC, and an opportunity for the future for the students”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3855 of Wednesday July 22, 2026