Maritime Security: Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA, new Director of CRESMAO takes office
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021 took place in Abidjan (Ivoiry coast), the inauguration ceremony of Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA, new Director of the West Africa Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAO) in replacement of Rear Admiral Boniface KONAN.
For Rear Admiral Boniface KONAN, outgoing Interim Director of CRESMAO, “This step is an outstanding achievement on our way to the full operationalization of the Centre, namely the international staffing with member-States personnel alongside the host-country’s representatives seconded since 2016.”
Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA was born on 27 Aug 1970 in Adunu, Paikoro Local Government, Niger State, in Nigeria. Admitted in 1988 to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA entered service on 10 September 1993 as a member of 40 Regular Course.
Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA holds a post-graduate diploma in Strategic Management from the Chartered Management Institute, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in Defence Studies from King’s College London.
During his career in the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Istifanus Mu’azu ALBARA has held several positions both on board and ashore. He has served as Project Coordinator in the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security, a Directing Staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Nigeria and as Deputy Defence Adviser at the Nigeria High Commission London. He was also Director of Maritime Services at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja and a moderator at the National Institute. His last position was Director Communications and Information Technology at NHQ.
It should be recalled that the mission of the Regional Maritime Security Center for West Africa (CRESMAO) is to:
- to strengthen regional cooperation at the strategic level, within the framework of the implementation of the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy (SMIC) ;
- to coordinate the activities of the three (03) ECOWAS maritime zones (E, F and G); and
- to facilitate the sharing of information and experiences in collaboration with the Regional Maritime Security Center of Central Africa (CRESMAC) of ECCAS under the interregional coordination Center (ICC).
by Pascaline Odoubourou, Editor in Chief
Photo credits : GoGiN
