Malmö, Sweden — A high-level courtesy meeting was held with the President of the World Maritime University (WMU), Prof. Máximo Q. Mejía Jr., at the University’s headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, during which both parties exchanged views on areas of mutual interest, including maritime education, capacity development, and institutional cooperation.
The engagement reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in support of effective maritime governance, human resource development, and the promotion of international best practices within the global maritime sector, with particular focus on building capacity in Sierra Leone’s maritime industry.
Also in attendance were the Vice President of WMU, Prof. Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs; the University Registrar, Mr. Peter Marriott; and the Head of Maritime Education and Training, Prof. Momoko Kitada. The WMU leadership expressed strong interest in supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to develop a modern, resilient, and well-regulated maritime sector.
Discussions centred on opportunities for technical cooperation, professional training, academic exchange, and skills development, aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s maritime institutions and enhancing the country’s capacity to meet international maritime standards. The WMU officials conveyed their readiness to work closely with Sierra Leone to build human capital and institutional competence in areas such as maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and sustainable ocean governance.
The World Maritime University, a specialised institution of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is globally recognised for training maritime professionals and policymakers from developing countries. Its expressed willingness to collaborate is expected to contribute significantly to the growth and modernization of Sierra Leone’s maritime sector.
The meeting underscored the importance of international partnerships in advancing maritime education and governance, and marked a positive step toward deeper cooperation between Sierra Leone and the World Maritime University.
