MAN Oron: Communities Unite For Development of Academy.
The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Commodore Efedua Duja, (rtd), as part of the on going restructuring at the Academy has met with leaders of the various associations in Oron to to work out better ways and strategies to ensure mutual benefits for the Academy and host communities as they partner to reposition MAN for better days for all stakeholders.
Very reliable sources present at the interactive session the Rector had with the Oron youths have revealed that as a man of peace, the Rector called for peace and understanding between the youths and the Academy.
We are reliably told that he asked the youths to organize themselves, come together and reduce the number of associations for better communication, synergy and make it easier for management of MAN to work with them.
We gathered that it was an open, very frank discussion and nobody used any abusive words on anybody.
There are speculations that some persons have been sacked from the Academy. This, our findings reveal is not true. The concerned staffs only proceeded on their 2017 annual leave which is even over due.
The Rector, we are very reliably informed said at the meeting “My people, the Academy is our national pride. Together, lets join hands and make it the envy of other nations”, Efedua said.
We gathered from those who know that the Interim Management Committee, IMC, headed by Chief Adebayo Sarumi, former managing director, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, is insisting on either the best for the Academy or nothing.
For instance, “Do you know that a new course which is not taught in any Nigerian University, ELECTROTECH ENGINEERING is being introduced at MAN in response to IMO recent guidelines”? Our source asked.
We are also told that efforts by the new management team to bring into the Academy core maritime professionals (from within and outside the country) to improve training standards and attract greater goodwill to the school are on.
The Rector is quoted to have said “We are all concerned and involved. So much is ongoing but there are those who are out to cause confusion, create disaffection and pollute minds”.
Contacted, several youth leaders agree that without peace nothing good can be achieved. They thanked the Rector for initiating the meeting. They also pledged their support towards the development of the Academy.
Prince Uwe Ebek Uwe, President, Peace Keeping Association, Oron, Comrade Sunday Osukwo Antai, President, Common People Association Worldwide, Sunday Odokwu, President, Oron Youth Forum, amongst others spoke in the same vein.
The Rector therefore enjoined maritime stakeholders and host communities to be calm and be patient with the restructuring efforts and watch out for the good things to come.
