A Young Seafarer Seeks Support

Matarr S. Okafor, 24, was born in Banjul's Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) and grew up in SohmVillage, Western Division. Matarr is seeking support to study Nautical Science in any MaritimeCollege. Matarr Okafor attended the SohmPrimary School between 1990 and 1996 and then went to KafutaJuniorSecondary School. After successfully passing his Junior Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination he proceeded to The Gambia Senior Secondary School and sat the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2003. At the completion of his SeniorSchool he went to The Gambia Maritime Training Institute as a part-time trainee and obtained a pre-sea mandatory certificate.

Matarr Okafor has worked onboard a tanker ship of 4,000 gross tonnage, travelling to Greece, Istanbul (Turkey), Georgia (Russia) and Constanza (Romania). He has also worked onboard a tanker of 880 gross tonnage, travelling to Senegal, Mauritania, Abidjan and Guinea Bissau. Makarr S. Okafor has more than four years experience on the high seas as an Able Bodied Seaman and a QuarterMaster in the bridge and on deck.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the United Kingdom has issued Matarr Okafor with a Notice of Eligibility. The MCA has assessed him and found him eligible when it comes to his sea service and qualifications to sit the MCA Oral Examination for a Certificate of Competency (to become a Deck Officer).

Matarr is therefor seeking support from the Government of Dr. Alhagie Yahya AJJ Jammeh, public or private companies, philanthropists, NGOs, Embassies, financial institutions and individuals to finance his OOW Nautical Science Study Course.

Matarr S. Okafor is a member of the Association of Gambian Sailors and The Gambia Maritime Training Institute Students Union. He is also a member of the Banjul Green Boys and Girls.

According to Matarr, if given this support he wishes to continue his maritime career to become a ships captain and he hopes to be useful when The Gambia starts exploring her oil and other minerals. He also aims to provide a recruitment company for recruiting and training young people to work onboard foreign going vessels instead of risking their lives going the backdoor route in search of greener pastures.

He can be contacted at 4227309, 7601726