The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday graduated 233 cadets for 2022, who have completed their courses in various disciplines.
The academy also sought more collaboration from International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the areas of technical assistance and capacity training.
Speaking during the graduation, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Muazu Sambo, hailed the contribution of the Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua, (rtd) for working behind the scene to impact so much on the academy.
The Minister who was represented by the Minister of State for Transportation, Mr Ademola Adegoroye, recalled with delight that Nigeria is enjoying the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) technical assistance in the area of capacity training.
He said the rector has worked so hard to ensure the academy achieved its present level of academic and professional excellence worthy of recognition.
“There is a need for greater technical cooperation with the world body, so as to enhance the capacity to meet the significantly increasing demand for maritime education and training in the country.
“These needs are in the area of support from the IMO to further train the Academy’s instructors, lecturers and other personnel.
“It also entails the IMO supporting MAN, Oron to secure the STCW Convention-required Sea time onboard foreign-going vessels for her teeming cadets.
“On behalf of my humble self, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the Nigerian Maritime Stakeholders, I wish to congratulate the 2022 graduating Cadets.
“The Rector and entire Staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria for this momentous occasion in the life of these Cadets and the Maritime Industry. The Federal Ministry of Transportation joins the Academy in this celebration.
“It is pertinent to note that great benefits await you all as graduate Cadets in the maritime sector in Nigeria and the world at large.
“This great feat is being achieved through adherence to regulations and guidelines emanating from IMO Conventions and Protocols, which ushered in advanced technology in the marine industry.
“I also wish to express my appreciation to the lecturers that have imparted so much on these Cadets, including those that worked behind the scenes to make these Cadets what they are today, their labour of love will never be forgotten,” Sambo said.
He reassured the institution of the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to work with MAN in ensuring a better academy.
In his remarks, the Rector Maritime Academy, Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) urged the Cadets to be good ambassadors of the Academy.
Effedua promised not to rest on his oars in ensuring that the academy ranks among the leading institutions in the world.
“The management since we came in have been able to stop frivolities. We let people know that this is a citadel of learning, not a business centre.
“When staff misbehaves, we set up a panel and we send the decisions to the governing council for decisions to be taken.
“We have also let people know that the Institution is not a cash cow and funds that are hitherto, wasted in frivolities are now being used to develop the Academy.
“When I came in, we battled with failing standard of training, over-bloated cadets’ environment, demoralised manpower, infrastructure decay, poor maintenance of facilities, dearth of teaching aides, makeshift library facility without relevant book of reference,” Effedua said.
He, however, noted that the management had been able to turn the Institution around in the last five years.
Our correspondent reports that three of the best graduating Cadets got immediate employment/scholarships with Starzs Investments Company while Bricks Nigeria Limited also took two of the most disciplined Cadets for immediate employment.
In his goodwill message, Mr Tajudeen Alao, the President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), said the academy had transformed from 4th Class to a 1st Class marine institution for global standard maritime education and training.
“We are here today to celebrate another successful academic cycle in the running of this Academy and the career of the graduating cadets. May God guide their future voyages.
“We are at the same time celebrating the blossoming of the seeds planted for this Flotila, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, over four decades ago,” he said.
He commended the Rector of the Academy, for moving up the development of the Academy, which he said had been at snail’s speed in the last four decades.