Reps committee tasks maritime academy on accountability, service delivery

By Isaiah Eka

The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has charged the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom, to maintain satisfactory level of accountability and effective service delivery.

Its Deputy Chairman, Mr Uduak Ududoh, gave the charge during the committee’s oversight visit to the institution on Thursday.

Ududoh commended the authority for its commitment to budgetary expenditure and prudence in project implementation.

He said that the committee was impressed with the infrastructure in the academy and its collaboration with globally recognised institutions.

“We have received detailed briefings from the academy’s management on the implementation of the 2025 budget as approved by the National Assembly.

“The presentation was supported with documentary evidence and visual records of projects that have been implemented,” he said.

The deputy chairman further said that the committee conducted physical inspections of facilities across the institution as part of its statutory oversight function.

Ududoh, who represents Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo Constituency in the National Assembly, said that the current leadership had put the academy on the path of steady growth through optimal performance.

The lawmaker said that the increasing number of cadets from the academy and those onboard sea vessels remained highly encouraging.

“The academy’s growing collaboration with international institutions and professional maritime bodies is an evidence of resilient efforts to reposition the school.

“Any parent bringing a child here wants to know what happens after graduation. That has been a challenge in the past, but the management is making progress in that area.

“The partnership with international professional bodies for registration and global recognition of cadets and graduates of the institution is worthy of commendation,” he said.

Addressing cadets at the academy, Ududoh charged them to take their training seriously, and avoid social vices in order to become better seafarers.

Earlier, the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna, said that the institution had intensified efforts to expand international partnerships and attract foreign students.

Okonna said that the country must derive full benefits from the institution, noting that only a few maritime academies in the region possessed comparable infrastructure.

“We have an academy in which the government is investing significant resources. We must work together to ensure that Nigerians get full benefits from it,” he said.

He said that in the past one year, the academy had demonstrated huge commitment to produce seafarers that could contribute to both national and global maritime development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Azubuike Okeh