Maritime Academy Oron: Redefining marine economy
By Isaiah Eka, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
The maritime industry is a crucial facilitator of international trade through shipping and port operations; hence, the need for building and training the critical mass of workforce needed for operational efficiency.
In Nigeria, and across the globe, the workforce at the maritime industry coordinates a web of commercial activities–linking supply chains to raw materials and end products.
In recognition of the importance of maritime workforce, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom, was established in 1977 to provide high-quality training and global-standard education for the merchant navy and allied industries.
The academy’s establishing policy mandates it to produce professionals that will meet customer expectations through modern technology and continuous quality improvement in ship operations, port management, and other marine services.
Recently, the academy held its 2025 Third Quarter Citizens’ and Stakeholders’ Engagement Forum aimed to project the activities and achievements of the institution.
At the theme of the forum was: “Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy for Onboard Training of Nigerian Merchant Navy Cadets and Critical Needs of the Marine Academy.”
In his speech at the event, the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna, reiterated the academy’s commitment to achieving the reasons for its establishment.
Okonna said that within the 10 months that he had been on the saddle as the academy’s helmsman, critical policy initiatives had been taken to keep the institution in line with the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).
The acting rector said that the institution had received collaboration with maritime professional associations and the alumni of the academy for employment of more maritime professionals to enable expansion in the academy’s course offering and improvement in quality of training.
He said that since January, the academy had employed seven marine professional lecturers to enhance cadets teaching and learning.
According to him, more professionals will be joining the academy as soon as approval for recruitment is given.
“The academy has obtained the commitment of shipowners and shipowner associations for the provision of onboard training opportunities for the cadets of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, in line with the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy.
“It has obtained tremendous support of frontline professional bodies for collaboration for course recognition/accreditation and registration of all cadets in the academy with the respective professional bodies.’’
Okonna listed some of the professional associations to include the Nautical Institute (NI), UK, Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), UK, and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
He said with the collaboration, all cadets of the academy would have to be registered with at least one professional association to prepare them for future engagement internationally.
Okonna said management had intensified collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on issues bordering on increased recognition of Nigeria’s seafarers certificates of competency.
He said that to enhance academic excellence and professionalism, the academy recently acquired state-of-the-art simulators that were being perfectly maintained and utilised for STCW mandatory training of its cadets and short courses participants from the industry.
“The simulators include; a 30-trainee-station Multifunctional Classroom (MFC) Simulator, Full Mission Bridge Simulator, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator, and Virtual Reality (Ocular Vision) Simulator.
“The Multi-Functional Classroom (MFC) Simulator has eight part-task simulators including; Radar/ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS, Navigation/Manoeuvring, Dynamic Positioning, Liquid Cargo Handling, High Voltage, and Engine Room simulators in one classroom.
“It is an innovation created through the partnership between the Academy and the globally recognised simulator manufacturers, the Applied Research International (ARI).
“The simulators have both International and Nigerian Port Areas and navigational channels for exercises.
“All the simulator-based courses are accredited and many of the courses are always fully booked ahead of schedule.”
The acting rector said that aside from teaching and learning, the welfare of cadets and staff members had been prioritised for a healthy learning environment.
“Purchased three brand new transformers and collaborated with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) company to intervene on the Eket-Oron power supply line to reconnect public power to the academy after about eight years with improved power supply in the institution and in the entire Oron host community, after a very long time.
“It contacted and is partnering with all major Shipowner Associations (SOAN & NISA) and major individual shipowners for provision of onboard training opportunities for cadets of the Academy.”
The acting rector informed the stakeholders that the academy expects to graduate on Nov. 13 another set of more than 200 well-trained cadets who were all members of major professional bodies with access to vast resources for Continuing Professional Development and networking with the very best in their professions.
He disclosed that the academy trained a total of 4,595 participants in short courses in 2024.
“The institution had already received and trained a total of 3,217 participants as at Aug. 2025 in the 48 mandatory short courses and Certificates of Competency preparatory classes, including 12 simulator-based courses, on offer in the institution,’’ Okonna said.
Stakeholders say Okonna, in the past 10 months, renovated cadets’ hostel facilities and reconnected the academy and the community to the national grid, after years of abandonment, to ensure steady power supply to the institution and its environs.
“The acting rector within this short period has ensured the completion and development of conditions and scheme of service for staff of the academy.
“He has obtained the recommendations of the Governing Council of the Academy and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, where it is receiving attention.
“Within 10 months, Okonna also totally rehabilitated the entire male and female cadets’ hostels, replaced all dilapidated furniture and installed solar power as alternative source of power in all the cadets and short courses hostels in the academy,” a stakeholder said.
Similarly, the Chairman, Governing Council of the Academy, Mr Kehinde Akinola, who was physically present throughout the engagement, said that the board had initiated and guided the development of a comprehensive Five-Year Strategic Development Plan for the Academy.
Akinola said that once approval was given, the strategic blueprint would accelerate institutional reforms, enhance training standards, deepen industry linkages, and reposition the academy.
He said the governing council was working hard in partnership with shipowners and operators to secure practical training for the cadets as competent seafaring professionals.
“It is an obligation because we must prepare our cadets to meet international standards.”
He assured stakeholders that the council would work to position the Maritime Academy of Nigeria among the very best maritime training institutions in West and Central Africa.
“The academy will continue to play its leading role in the development of the maritime sector in the country,” he said.
More so, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, during the engagement, charged the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) to maintain its strategic position of producing professionals for the development of maritime industry in the country.
The minister, represented by Mr Joshua Ayebameru, Deputy Director, Research, Planning and Statistics in the ministry, said the academy had trained qualified personnel for the maritime industry.
He said that the engagement was to gather stakeholders to discuss how to advance Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy through collaboration, innovation, and excellence in maritime education and training.
He said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that seafarers, cadets, and maritime professionals from the institution were not only globally competitive, but well-equipped to drive the growth and sustainability in the sector.
“The Maritime Academy of Nigeria has, over the years, remained a cornerstone of human capacity development for our maritime industry.
“Through its programmes, training, and commitment to excellence, the academy continues to produce the manpower required to keep our sector vibrant and competitive.”
Oyetola called for collaboration of all stakeholders to join hands in developing the sector to move it forward.
“The future of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy depends on our collective resolve and partnership.
“If we work together, we will not only build a stronger sector but also secure lasting benefits for generations to come,” he said.
Worthy of note, the academy has on offer seven Regular Cadetship training programmes with accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and 48 Professional and Mandatory Short Courses in line with the STCW Convention and other International Conventions with accreditation from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
In all, it is stakeholders’ view, that with the current administration of the academy, Nigeria will surpass the present standard of excellence, and continue the training of maritime professionals towards enhancing industrialisation and economic growth.(NANFeatures)
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.
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