The Nigerian Navy has reinforced its commitment to developing a highly skilled and mission-ready workforce with the inauguration of 281 Student Ratings for the 2026 Second Quarter Professional Courses and the graduation of 15 personnel who successfully completed the Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Course 2 at the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) Auditorium.
The colourful ceremony, held on Friday, July 17, 2026, was presided over by the Commandant of NNS QUORRA, Commodore Mohammed Rabiu Hassan, who described professional training as the foundation of operational excellence and effective maritime security in Nigeria’s evolving security environment.
Addressing the newly inaugurated Student Ratings, Hassan urged them to embrace discipline, integrity and professionalism throughout their period of training. He reminded them that the Nigerian Navy remains one of the country’s foremost institutions where competence, courage and dedication are non-negotiable values.
He stressed that the professional courses were carefully designed to equip participants with modern military knowledge, technical expertise and leadership skills required to meet emerging maritime security challenges across Nigeria’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea.
The Commandant also congratulated the 15 graduating personnel who completed the rigorous STCW Course 2, noting that the internationally recognised certification would further enhance their competence in navigation, safety procedures, emergency response and watchkeeping in line with global maritime standards.
According to him, the Nigerian Navy continues to invest significantly in human capital development because well-trained personnel remain indispensable to safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain, protecting critical national assets and supporting the Blue Economy agenda.
Hassan further charged the graduates to justify the confidence reposed in them by translating the knowledge acquired into improved operational efficiency, professionalism and commitment wherever they are deployed within the Service.
The ceremony attracted senior naval officers, instructors, maritime stakeholders, families of the graduating personnel and invited guests, who commended NNS QUORRA for sustaining its reputation as one of the Nigerian Navy’s leading professional training institutions.
The inauguration and graduation ceremony also underscored the Navy’s strategic focus on continuous manpower development through specialised training programmes that align with international best practices and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime capability.
As the Nigerian Navy continues to deepen operational readiness through quality training, the inauguration of 281 Student Ratings alongside the graduation of 15 STCW-certified personnel reflects the Service’s unwavering commitment to building a professional, technologically driven and globally competitive naval force.