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  • Maritime Academy graduates 221 cadets as industry scrambles to hire top performers

    Maritime Academy graduates 221 cadets as industry scrambles to hire top performers

    The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, has graduated 221 cadets in a ceremony that turned into a major recruitment arena, with 70 outstanding students receiving top honours and attracting instant employment offers, cash awards, and sea-time opportunities from maritime operators.

    The 2025 Passing Out Parade, held from November 10 to 13, saw companies competing to recruit the academy’s best talents, with several firms awarding N1 million cash prizes alongside job placements.

    Acting Rector and Parade Review Officer, Dr. Kevin Okonna, charged the graduates to uphold the values of “discipline, integrity, and excellence,” stressing that their rigorous academic and regimental training had prepared them for global maritime careers.

    “You must be worthy ambassadors of this Academy and the maritime industry. The values instilled in you here will shape your contribution to national and global maritime development,” he said.

    Okonna commended the academy’s management, staff, and the Nigerian Navy for sustaining high training standards. He noted that the 2025 set enjoyed the “rare privilege” of interacting with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez during his recent visit to Nigeria.

    As top-performing cadets were announced, maritime operators swiftly stepped forward with job offers, sea-time slots, and cash awards. Starzs Investment Limited, led by Engr. Greg Ogbeifun topped the list by offering five cadets immediate employment, additional training, and N1 million each upon resumption.

    Sea Transport Services Limited awarded cash prizes to eight exceptional cadets and hired five of them, while Aron Energy Services Limited gave N1 million each to three cadets and offered two job placements.

    The Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) pledged sea-time training slots for 50 cadets, easing their pathway into industry practice. Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu-Sanni Eshinlokun, also presented cash gifts to seven high-achieving cadets.

    The Academy’s Alumni Association honoured excellence by awarding cash prizes to the best HND graduate, Bethel Chibuike Azubuike, and the best ND graduate, Lawrence Chisom Anita.

    Senator Eshinlokun affirmed that the National Assembly remains committed to strengthening the academy’s mandate of producing highly skilled maritime manpower.

    “The Senate under Senator Godswill Akpabio will do everything to ensure the Academy remains a leading institution in West and Central Africa,” he said.

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    Similarly, House Committee representative Bareje Yusuf pledged improved budgetary support for the Academy.

    Vice Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University, Ghana, Prof. Jethro Broke, offered postgraduate admission opportunities to the two best graduating cadets in recognition of their performance.

    Former NPA Managing Director, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, NIMASA Director-General Dr. Dayo Mobereola, representatives of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Chief of Naval Staff, and the Akwa Ibom State Governor were among dignitaries who attended the ceremony at the Rotimi Amaechi Auditorium.

    Engr. Isreal Obadan advised the cadets to remain professional, saying excellence would reward their discipline and effort.

    For many cadets, the 2025 parade ranks among the institution’s most memorable. The Academy’s spokesperson, Domo Umoekpe, said Okonna had “lived up to expectations” and delivered a ceremony that left the graduates “full of joy.”

    The Acting Rector reaffirmed MAN Oron’s commitment to producing seafarers capable of meeting the demands of the global maritime industry.

  • Governing board for Maritime Academy

    Governing board for Maritime Academy

    Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has inaugurated the governing board of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

    The minister also revealed that the academic curriculum of the institution has been upgraded to align with international maritime standards.

    Oyetola who stated this while inaugurating members of the governing board in Abuja yesterday, said the specialised training offered by the institution would expose graduates of the institution to jobs globally.

    He said: “The vision of MAN, Oron is to equip our teaming youth with specialized maritime education and practical skills, preparing them for jobs in shipping, marine engineering, port operations, and logistics by offering industry-aligned training and internationally recognized certifications.

    “As you are aware, the Academy has made significant strides in recent years, establishing itself as a premier institution for maritime education in Africa by investing heavily in infrastructural development, including modern classrooms, hostels, and advanced simulators for ship handling and engine room operations, providing cadets with practical, real-world training.”

    The minister further said that the objective of the academy remains the development of top and middle-class skilled manpower for the maritime sector.

    He said: “We want the certificate from the academy to be globally recognised so that whoever is trained there could get jobs anywhere in the world. We would ensure that that is done, given the fact that we have a board now.

    “The Academy must continue to provide specialized, practical training in areas like marine engineering and nautical sciences, which are essential for filling technical and operational roles.”

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    Oyetola charged members of the board to be dedicated and aligned with the ongoing reforms in the industry.

    “As you assume your roles, I urge you to align yourselves with the ongoing reforms in the Marine and Blue Economy sector, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration. The Maritime sector is critical to our national development, and the success of our broader economic policies depends heavily on our ability to provide the required manpower.

    “The Maritime Academy of Nigeria is central to this effort. To achieve this, there must be a strong and seamless synergy between the governing board and the academy’s management.”

    He added that collaboration and mutual respect between both entities will ensure that the Academy functions efficiently and effectively.

    The Chairman of the Board, Engr. Kehinde Akinola said he and other members of the board would collaborate with the ministry to propel the academy to greater heights.

    He said: “Together, we will foster excellence in maritime education, research, and innovation. I pledge to support the tireless efforts of the academy’s staff and students in shaping the future of Nigeria’s maritime industry.”

  • Developing Maritime Academy has earned me enemies, says Rector

    Developing Maritime Academy has earned me enemies, says Rector

    The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (retd) says he has made more enemies than friends due to his insistence on developing the institution.

    Effedua made the disclosure while making his presentation before the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration on oversight function at the Academy recently.

    According to him, his insistence on plugging all financial leakages and acts of corruption by some staff and contractors earned him stiff opposition.

    Effedua, who is doing his second term, said he received over 6,500 petitions in the last three years of his administration.

    He added that there was no week he was not being petitioned before the anti-graft agencies.

    “This is my second term which runs out next year, we have done all that we needed to do and we done need to stay more than necessary. There were challenges when I was appointed, it is not easy for people to accept changes.

    “I met a lot of abandoned projects, more than 39 of them, some were abandoned for years, I was then wondering what to do. I had to get an audit firm to audit the Academy, let us know where we are coming from.

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    “We had to draw the line to reorganise the school, look at the classrooms we met. How can someone learn in this environment? I say no, we have to build modern classrooms, we can do it, it’s just attitude, but in doing these we hurt people, people don’t like what you are doing and that is why I’m the most petitioned COE in Nigeria.

    “I have received over 6,500 petitions as at three years ago, and there is no week that I’m not being invited by the anti-graft agencies by somebody because some people think that the longer you stay, they no longer get what they were getting before,” Effedua said.

    He said that the state of infrastructural decay at the Academy was so bad that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) had threatened to delist Nigeria as a place where Maritime students should be trained.

    Reacting to the presentation during the interactive session which held at the conference hall of the Nautical Building of the Maritime Academy, the chairman of the committee Khadijah Bukar Abba Ibrahim said all contractors who abandoned projects from the inception of the institution would be investigated and made to account for every Kobo collected to serve as a deterrent to others.

  • Maritime academy for cadets, experts

    The Charkin Maritime Academy (CMA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State,  is shopping for professionals in the maritime industry.

    This was part of its bid to meet the standards set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and ensure it’s courses are line with the guidelines and conventions of the global maritime watchdog.

    Though many professionals are required, the academy, findings revealed, is presently shopping for marine engineers, lecturers, librarian, Cadets Regimental Unit (RUC) Commander, laboratory technologist and registrar.

    The  institution took the step to meet the requirements of local regulatory agencies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    Acting Provost of the academy, Dr. Egben Okore told  The Nation that the move  to recruit more professionals into the CMA was informed by the need to beef up the present workforce as well as prepare ahead of some of its courses and programmes.

    Okore said that interested applicants and students are free to take advantage of the openings in the school for a future career in maritime, oil and gas industries and beyond.

    It was part of the institution’s  expansion programmes that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike had in February this year, unveiled Nigeria’s first ever land ship, MV Rivers Pride built by the CMA. The land ship houses some of the equipment and facilities required by the institution.

    These comprise full mission navigational bridge simulator; ECDIS Simulation Room; GMDSS (Navigation) Simulation Room which conforms to the 2010 Manila Amendments by the IMO; and the basic dynamic positioning class.

    Other components of the land ship are advance dynamic positioning and examination class; nautical institute examination room; and the drilling system crane simulator.

    Wike also used the occasion to announce an approval of a certificate of occupancy for the land in which the land ship is situated at Ozuoba, along the East-West Road, Port Harcourt.

    The governor praised the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, Sir Charles K. Wami for the strides he has made since the establishment of the facility.

  • New lease for Maritime Academy, Oron

    Officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT) have paid an unscheduled visit to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to examine the facility put in place by its management and how it is repositioning the institution for greater

    The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd.), was reportedly surprised last week when officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation paid an unscheduled visit to the institution to see the facilities put in place by the management and how it is remodelling the academy.

    Investigation revealed that the Rector got notice of the visit less than 24 hours to the arrival of the fact-finding team.

    The facility tour came at a time critics and mischief-makers were at the peak of their campaign of calummy against the Rector; misinforming the public on the repositioning of the academy, and smearing the institution’s image through various means of propaganda on media and social network platforms.

    The facility tour, therefore, was timely and necessary to authenticate matters and properly inform the government and the public, based on verifiable evidence.

    At the end of the four-hour tour, it was learnt that the evidence on ground was too strong and numerous to be contested for any reason, except the spurious.

    Right from the road leading to the academy and its main gate, the therapeutic ambience, cleanliness and serenity of the environment and the soothing breeze sweeping across the length and breadth of the academy were obvious enough to show that something new has been put in place.

    The tour also revealed that the transformation in the academy was beyond the well manicured grass and the painting of structures. It was that of infrastructural renaissance as seen in the renovation, refurbishing or remodelling of projects to meet expedient needs, completion of projects abandoned for decades, construction of new ones, and facelift that would create a conducive atmosphere for work and academic activities.

    The first port of call was the Administrative Block, which houses the Rector’s Office. Apart from giving the block a facelift, more office spaces have been created within the structure by reducing the over-bloated size of the old ones. In addition, a state-of–the-art Reception Office has been built by redesigning the frontage of the Administrative Block, which was once empty and served no specific purpose.

    According to the Rector, the facelift became necessary because it was inexplicable that an academy over 40 years old had no Reception Office; hence the newly-designed Reception will enhance proper documentation and security checks on visitors as well as give whoever mans the office a sense of responsibility, concentration and comfort to handle his or her duties. Again, with new offices created within the Administrative Block, workers would be freer and more dedicated to their responsibilities.

    Next was the Academy’s Auditorium. It would be recalled that this was one of the flashpoints during the National Assembly’s last visit, where it was observed that materials used for the building were sub-standard, the design primitive, and the job poorly executed, hence a call for remodelling of the gigantic project. Just as was recommended, work on the remodelling is commendable, with the replacement of the inferior tiles with quality ones, replacement of wooden ceiling with POP, and reinforcement of the windows and doors.

    According to Effedua, there are plans to properly landscape the undulating grounds around the auditorium and create a car park as soon as major renovations on it were completed.

    The tour also took the team to the Academic Block within which are four lecture theatres.  It was observed that the lecture theatres, which were once shadows of realities have been renovated to modern standard with the fixing of quality doors, tiling of the floor, provision of two exit doors and adequate ventilation through extension of the windows.

    The Rector assured that as soon as the renovation was completed, smart white boards and comfortable seats would be provided to create conducive learning environment for both the cadets and their lecturers.

    From The Nation’s interaction with some principal staff in the Works Department of the academy, it was gathered that the lecture theatres had been abandoned for years even when there were pressing need for them. The Academic Building has a relaxation room for cadets, which is undergoing renovation.

    Another project site visited was the ongoing twin state-of-the-art survival pool, where construction was ongoing. Giving a brief background and projections on the project, the Rector said the original concept was that of an Olympic size swimming pool. But again, like other projects, it was abandoned for decades, a situation that had deprived generations of cadets of one of the basic trainings they ought to have had before graduating.

    To meet this need, the Rector re-awarded the contract on the condition that two new pools of quality material and standard be created out of the former one, since the main aim is the training of cadets and other professionals who may need such services.

    The one-storey, formerly conceived to be the Rector’s Residence,  has also been affected by the wind of change. Because the Rector lives in a rented property outside the academy and considered the apartment to be too big for one individual, he decided to make some structural adjustments on the building to meet part of the academy’s staff accommodation needs.

    Following this, accommodation has been provided for 15 workers within the building. The next time you visit the academy and you hear of ‘’White House’’,  it is the new name given to the former Rector’s building out of appreciation and joy by the workers. Besides, construction of workers’accommodation projects is ongoing.

    Also visited was a completed one-storey building, which Effedua said serves as a model for what all classrooms will look like, with teaching aids and comfort, which will gradually phase off congestion and inconvenience. Already, work on the one-storey classroom, which was abandoned at foundation level years ago, has reached advanced stage, just two weeks after commencement of work.

    It was also observed that two abandoned structures have been renovated and converted into a security quarters and a mosque, while work on the church building is progressing.

    Another achievement of the Rector is his ability to recall to site or renegotiate with contractors who, for some reasons, abandoned projects contracted to them by the previous management. The Rector said he was able to achieve this because of his accountability, robust diplomacy and provable goodwill to members of the host communities.

    “Indeed, this intervention has saved us money and the usual rigours of initiating new contracts and related processes. As you can see, the contractors are happy and serious over their work and meeting deadlines. I do this because government’s investment in this academy must be judiciously used, protected and accounted for,’’ Commodore Effedua assured.

    The Rector’s blueprint for the over 33 abandoned projects, including the Staff Quarters scattered around the Phase Three section of the Academy’s land, holds great promise of relief, especially for workers. There are also four 200-capacity hostel blocks, which, according to the Rector, will soon be completed and a section of it will possibly be used as guest rooms as one of the sources for generating revenue internally from outsiders, who may come to the academy for short-term courses.

    To facilitate and ensure the cleanliness of the academy’s environment, the Rector has also purchased two brand new mower-propelled tractors, with the labour sourced locally as part of the academy’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and empowerment for the host communities. It was quite humbling to hear that, purchasing the tractors, the Rector had to reject money approved by the National Assembly for his official vehicle and requested that the money be used to buy the tractors.

    It is no exaggeration to say that, in addition to the new spirit of seriousness and compliance to rules among staff and cadets, the academy is a beehive of activities, particularly the renovation, remodelling and construction of new structures to meet pressing needs. The ingenuity and efforts put in to achieve all of these became even more obvious when pictures of the old structures were shown to the team. The Rector mentioned that the renovation and remodelling exercise are on phases since everything cannot be taken at once.

    He announced the abolition of charges for Advanced Short Mandatory Courses for cadets and advocated the abolition of tuition fees.

    It was noteworthy to see these positive changes in the academy since the Rector formally took over the management of the institution. His proactive approach and dedicated response to recommendations made to him by the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration and the Governing Council during their last inspection visit to the Academy this year are commendable. For sure, those who have not been to the Academy in the last eight months are bound to ask many questions if they do so today. This is Commodore Effedua’s typical style of telling his story.

    •Okpo is an Uyo-based journalist and public affairs commentator.

  • New dawn for maritime academy

    A few days ago, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN), Oron hosted two strategic and supervisory arms of the government as part of its bid to structure and reposition the premier maritime training institution for global competitiveness. Edet Okpo reports.

    With words of commendation and strong vote of confidence by the National Assembly and Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State on the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd),  there is no doubt that the Academy is set for a new dawn.

    In the last one week, the academy  hosted two strategic and supervisory arms of government, with each coming with lofty packages aimed at reinforcing the Federal Government’s determination to fast-track processes towards holistically restructuring and repositioning the premier maritime training institution for global competitiveness.

    On Wednesday, March 13, members of the newly inaugurated Governing Council, led by their Chairman, Chief Ademola Seriki, were at the academy on what he described as ‘’inaugural visit/facility tour and familiarisation with Management staff”. Conversely, the aim of the five-member Council comprising renowned maritime experts, technocrats and seasoned civil servants of high professional and patriotic pedigree, was to enable members see things for themselves and unveil their template of action in tandem with government’s blueprint.

    On, Friday, March 16, the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration also came to the academy. The committee’s visit, on the other hand, could not have been said to be inaugural. According to Hon. Mohammed Bago, who led the committee, it was its “statutory oversight and supervisory functions over the Academy that fall under its duties”. It is on record that the committee has been visiting the academy almost quarterly. But last week’s visit, as Hon. Bago put it, was “to ascertain  to what extent the directives given on previous visits were complied with the what changes or new developments may have occurred since the last visit, and to deliberate on prevailing issues with the Rector as well as scrutinise his programme of action”.

    The volume of generous commendations freely poured on Commodore Effedua by the visitors were clear indications of how proactive, capable and meticulous the Rector has been in practically interpreting the Federal Government’s template  and other stakeholders for making the academy an attractive global brand. The rector has not only changed the hitherto dull physical outlook of the academy, but has utilised his leadership and administrative acumen in either adjusting or overhauling some internal processes that previously hindered productivity directly or indirectly. This is surprising because Commodore Effedua was a member of the defunct Interim Management Committee commissioned to develop modalities upon which the academy shall operate.

    The two inspection visits in one week simply conveyed the message on how committed and determined the Federal Government and stakeholders are about transforming the academy into a world class institution. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had last year engaged the services of an Interim Management Committee to fine-tune modalities for the needed changes  the academy required and thereafter made recommendations to the government. It is, therefore, gladdening to see how well the Rector understands the recommendations and how soon some of the best results have started to come.

    With what Chief Seriki saw during the visit, he expressed deep satisfaction on the state of some facilities in the academy and maintained that the institution stands a chance of becoming a global competitor if the needed changes were made in all ramifications and fast enough to let the impact be felt.

    He, however, stressed that attention must be given to obsolete equipment in some professional departments, such as marine engineering workshop, and nautical science. “We are greatly impressed by what we have seen; but I must also say that there is great need for improvement. Our intention is to leave this place better than we met it because we want to be part of the positive history of this academy. The Federal Government’s vision  for this academy is quite encouraging. However, we have a lot to do and all hand must be on deck. Support must be given to all arrangements and modalities put in place to towards the realisation of that goal,” the chairman maintained.

    He also said considering the level of innovation and sophistication in the global market, it was time cadets of the academy were exposed to the latest trends in the global space. “All we do  must be in tandem with the Federal Government’s template at holistic transformation of the academy and its products for global competitiveness. It is our resolve to negotiate with the National Assembly on matters of provision of facility, funding and other  relevant support for the effective running of the academy. More, really, has to be done in terms of upgrading of facilities. We must be seen to be doers not talkers,” the chairman urged.

    Chief Seriki praised the Federal Government for its commitment to fully translate the vision of the academy. He, therefore, unveiled the steps to be taken by the Governing Council. These will include effective engagement and functional partnership with maritime-related agencies and organisations in the oil and gas industry,  such as Mobil, NLNG, IMO, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria and NIMASA. Such partnership is to facilitate arrangement for the provision of facilities, technical services, capacity-building and engagement of qualified cadets from the academy.

    Places visited by the Governing Council during the inspection included Marine Engineering Department; Medical Centre; Jetty and classroom blocks.

    Others were the Academic Block, Mechatronics and Autotronics Laboratory, Strength of Material Laboratory, Thermodynamics Air-conditioning/Refrigeration Laboratory, Maritime Safety Department, Basic Course Centre; Auditorium and E-library/ICT Recourse Centre.

    The Council also inspected on-going projects in Phase 3, comprising staff quarters and hostel blocks.

    Members of the Committee were also praised the Rector for the chnages they noticed between their last visit and the current one. According to the Chairman, Mohammed Bago, it was obvious that Commodore Effedua understood the history and the circumstances in the academy and has responded to them with practical steps that pointed to a greater future.

    “Let me say that what we have seen today is a complete deviation from what it used to be. It is clear that deliberate steps have been taken to comply with earlier directives. On that note, I must on behalf of my committee commend the Rector for the strides he has recorded in so short a time and to encourage him not to rest on his oars until the battle is won. We are very impressed with the progress so far recorded.”

    Assuring the academy’s management of attention to critical matters,  Hon. Bago, however, made some recommendations for the smooth running of the academy. One of them is that the  academy’s staff strength may have to be reduced or some workers redeployed to where they are more relevant and productive than bloating up the system with workers, who had nothing useful to offer.

    The chairman’s further clarifications were that those due for promotion must necessarily be promoted; those due for retirement should be retried, and those found to be redundant should be amicably disengaged with due entitlements paid.

    According to Hon. Bago, “attention should be given to uncompleted and abandoned projects in the academy. Those projects built years ago and left halfway can be remodeled according to modern needs and necessities. It doesn’t  make sense to have projects scattered all over the place yet none is functioning. “That is why I insist that priority be paid to settling contractors as soon as they have delivered. There must also be a system of quality assurance and control so that projects can last for the purpose they were meant. The cardinal aim is the training of cadets for regional and global competitiveness; giving them all the leverage they need to excel; otherwise, we have failed and posterity shall not forgive us in that regard,”he said.

    Some projects recommended by the House Committee for remodelling included swimming pool, lecture theatre, E-library and resource centre and auditorium, and conversion of the abandoned Nautical Science block.

    Further reasons given  for the directive were that some of them had remained in that state for too long or were not of expected quality. To boost the Iinternally generated revenue (IGR) profile of the academy, the chairman also directed the Rector to convert some buildings to commercial use.

    Hon. Bago saw the academy as thriving on a triangle of gossip, bad people, and the progressives – all of whom, he said, should be identified by the management of the academy. The committee promised that it would use its office to create new windows for the rapid transformation of the academy and remove financial roadblocks that could hinder speedy attention to issues.

    The rector was also mandated to develop a plan of action and forward it to the committee for monitoring to ensure that he gets the needed support.

    Other Committee members on the visit included Hon. Solomon Adaelu, Hon. Muazu Lawal, Hon. Kabiru M, Achida and Hon. Fago.

    In his response, the Rector expressed  gratitude to the Committee for its passion and patriotic devotion to matters affecting the academy and promised to do all within his powers  to make the needed difference in the institution. He said he was happy that the House Committee could bear the pains to come down for sight-seeing.

    From the Academy Management were the Regimental Unit Commander, Capt. A. I. Yakubu, Deputy Registrar/Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Peter Netson, Acting Head of Bursary/Director, Finance and Account, Mr. Okon Bassey Okon, Director of Works and Services, Jide Kupoluyi, Procurement Officer/Director of Audit, Pastor Sunday Udoh, Chief lecturer/SA to the Director, Mr. John Adeyanju and Capt. Kponu, among others.

    At the end of the two high-profile visits, the conclusion was that the academy is, indeed, on its path to greatness, especially with the excellent vision and demonstrable capacity of Commodore Effedua.

     

    • Okpo is an Uyo-based public affairs commentator

  • I will turn Maritime Academy around in a year, says Rector

    Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Commodore Emma Daju Effedua (rtd), said he’ll work to ensure that the institution surpasses its peers in the West and Central African sub region within a year.

    , who spoke  when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Administration and Education visited him as part of its oversight functions, said he is in MAN “to change the narrative where cadets of the Academy are regarded as half baked and unemployable.

    “When this Academy was established 40 years ago it was the pride of the African continent. It was established at the same time, countries like South Africa, Ghana and Egypt also came up with their maritime academies, but 40 years down the line, we are hundreds of poles apart because we did not do the right things.”

    Commodore Effedua regretted that standards and competence were relegated to the background, resulting  in the turned out of cadets that cannot compete with the best in the world.

    He said previously, graduates of MAN, Oron were regarded as sone of the best in Africa as most of them got top flight positions in blue chip companies in the maritime and oil and gas sectors, but regretted  this narrative has since changed.

    He blamed the declining fortunes of the Academy on poor and inadequate learning infrastructure,  and demotivated staff coupled with distractions from the host community, saying, “our host community must understand that this is a Federal Government owned institution in which all Nigerians have equal stake. It is therefore unacceptable that our host community has failed to realise that as an international institution these local bickerings must and should be insulated from the goals of the founding fathers of the Academy.”

    Chairman of the Committee Mohammed Bago, in his remarks, urged the Rector to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Muhammad Buhari, describing his appointment as a wake up call.  He said considering his background as a Naval Officer, he was convinced the Rector has what it takes to turn the institution around.

    Said he: “We will support and collaborate with you. We want you to furnish us with your plan of action,  road map and your assets and liabilities,” as well a the funds needed for sea time training, he stated.

    We must be able to train the best cadets who have the requisite qualifications. We want all abandoned projects completed and contractors who are being owed must be mobilized back to site, Bago said.

    Among ongoing projects inspected by the Committee included the mini sports complex , the Olympic size swimming pool, the new parade ground, staff quarters as well as female and male hostels.

  • Senate committee expresses reservation over proposed transportation university

    Senate committee expresses reservation over proposed transportation university

    The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on Thursday in Abuja expressed reservation over the plan by the Chinese Government to establish a university of transportation  for Nigeria.

    The committee members made their position known during discussions on the omission of the Eastern rail corridor  in the 2016-2018 external borrowing  plan.

    Sen. Philip Gyunka, the Vice-Chairman of the committee, said instead of building new universities, the faculties of engineering in existing institutions could be upgraded to perform in various transport capacities.

    “Rather than establishing a new university, why not look at the competences that exist in our existing structures and build them up?,

    “We have enough universities already. It is better we look at quality and not quantity adding to the rate of unemployed graduates,“  Gyunka said.

    He said that the Maritime Academy, Oron, Cross River,  could  serve the same purpose for training Nigerians on special transport fields.

    Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe said instead of building a new university just to train Nigerians on rail maintenance, they could be sent abroad for training.

    He said that the Chinese Government could not be building a transport university free as they were not philanthropists.

    “Nigeria railways have been in existence for so many years and was run without building a new university, we want you to look at this matter again.

    “The reason that we have engineering departments and faculties in universities is so that if you have funding you can take them abroad. Why won’t you upgrade them?

    “Why must we set up another brand new university? It doesn’t in any way enhance people.

    “What is the Nigeria Railway Corporation doing?

    “We have good engineering students in Lagos, in Zaria that can be trained, the Chinese Government are not doing us any favour, the university cannot be free and they are not Father Christmas,“ Abaribe said.

    However, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said that there was no issue if the committee  wanted the idea of the university of transportation  dropped.

    Amaechi said that the Chinese Government had agreed to build the university free to train Nigerians that would continue to run the rail lines.

    “You will agree with me that the quality of education is very low and we are not spending anything to establish this university.

    “It is the contractor and the Chinese Government that will establish this university.

    “They will import the teachers, who will teach and grow knowledge, the graduates of that school will become teachers.

    “This university is not a university for engineering alone, it is a university of transportation that will deal with railway transportation, aviation and maritime, we are looking at two universities, it will be a specialised university.“

    He said that the Chinese Government would train  Nigerians free before handing over the rail projects.

  • Group condemns Sarumi Panel’s report on Maritime Academy 

    A group, the Niger Delta Development Initiative (NDDI), has condemned the report of the Committee on the restructuring of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The reports, NDDI said, was in bad faith.

    The commission headed by former Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarunmi, was set up by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

    NDDI President, Comrade Gabriel Thompson demanded that the panel’s report be disregarded because it is capable of creating another crisis in the region.

    He accused the committee of not relating with all those concerned before making its recommendations.

    His words: “The Sarumi-led Committee is made up of men that have lost touch with modern realities in the maritime industry and as such did not interact with professionals in the industry, some of whom are ex-cadets of the institutions which are now master mariners making waves in and out of the country before making recommendations to the minister.

    “These professionals include the best sailors and mariners all over Nigeria who have deep knowledge of how maritime institutions are run internationally.

    He said the committee was wrongly constituted, because “when you put together a committee of such magnitude, you don’t bring people that do not have the knowledge of the requirements of STCW (Manilla Convention of 2010 as amended); the laws that guide international maritime activities currently. To that extent, the committee even criticised the IMO standards adopted by the institution.

    Thompson said there was no way a committee would restructure an institution like MAN without interacting with critical stake-holders, including the host communities.

    “The committee was flawed because its attention should have been focused on bringing recommendations that should make the academy world class institution that could compete favourably with countries such as Philippine and Singapore whose mariners occupy nearly all the vessels on the world maritime waters, Thompson said.

    He stated that the provisions of training vessel is critical to the academy because it will enable cadets participate in the mandatory sea time experience as required by the STCW Convention 2010; provision of relevant equipment, infrastructures and proper funding.

    He also said that creating an enabling learning environment with qualified lecturers was one of the critical areas that needed restructuring and not the human beings in the academy.

    “The recommendations that Directors of Oron extraction in the school, who have committed no offence whatsoever, should be compulsorily retired is a misnomer.

    “To show that the committee lacks required knowledge, the recommendation that the procurement department of the institution should be merged with works department is against the Procurement Act of 2007 and it also negates the spirit of due process and world best practices,” Thompson pointed out.

    He also flayed the committee’s recommendation to tamper with the original organogram of the school, which was approved by the Federal Government, descring it as a misnomer.

    The group also said  that  the membership of the committee is not only lopsided, but are full of those with one grouse or the other against the people of Oron.

    Again, Thompson said the committee chairman, a former NPA MD, who made no known contribution to reposition MAN during his tenure, lacks the requisite knowledge to chair such a committee.

    The group said MAN’s problem is basically funding, which should be properly addressed.

    Since the demise of the Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL), no cadet from the institution has had sea time experience because of absence of training vessel.

    ‘’The minister should create an enabling environment that will sustain the present leadership, which the Niger Delta people are quite confident will steer the institution until such a time the institution is fully transformed into a Maritime University.

    The geoup  recommended that the Sarumi-led Committee should be disbanded and the report totally discredited as it is aimed at causing disharmony within the system.

    The Secretary of the group, Mr  Ita Umiom said they have sent Safe our Soul (SoS) message to President Muhammedu Buhari before the region would be plugged into another unnecessary crisis.

  • Maritime academy opens

    Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre has started admitting students for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The academy, located in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, is a leading provider of offshore safety and other skills training for maritime and oil and gas sectors.

    The school has state-of-the-art  facilities, which were unveiled by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    The centre is one of the foremost training institutions in the country,

    Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sir Chares Nwami, said the courses were accredited by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), International Well Control Forum (IWCF), and the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

    Others are the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN), International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST), and the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC).

    According to him, the centre runs Ordinary National Diploma (OND) programmes in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering for Deck Cadets and Engine Room Cadets.

    Nwami said admission requirements included a minimum of five credits in SSCE/GCE/NECO or equivalent at not more than two sittings.

    He said in addition to the academic requirements for admission, candidates are required to be between 16 and 22 years; physically and medically fit without any form of deformity.