As Jubilant Staff rename Lodge “White House”

 For staffs and Cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, the issues and challenges of accommodation will soon be consigned to the dust bin of history if ongoing plans/efforts by the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd), who, owing to his concern for staff welfare and wellbeing has converted the Rector’s Lodge (his official residence) to staff quarters as part of efforts towards addressing the lingering accommodation problem affecting the productive capacities of staffs of the Academy and enhance their efficiency in the course of their duties.

According to the Rector “I cannot be comfortable living in a big house like the Lodge by myself when my staff are facing challenges of accommodation. It is a major concern for me because people cannot deliver when they are plagued by issues of accommodation, rent and landlord/tenant issues. Our staffs must be comfortable if they are to work efficiently. We had to make adjustments, some re-structuring in the Lodge after which it was allocated to staff who were in dire need”.

Specifically, not less than fifteen staff of the Academy, consisting of senior and junior staffers have taken possession. In their ecstasy, basking in the euphoria of the reality of having a place to live inside the Academy as well as the comfortable state of the abode have renamed the lodge “White House”

An elated staff confided in us that he use to suffer greatly coming to work and returning home in one of the host communities where he was squatting with a sympathetic friend prior to his taking up residence at the converted Rector’s/white house.

In his words “Official duties sometimes keep one late at work because some tasks cannot wait. In such moments I am always very apprehensive because of the distance and the challenges of transportation. It becomes double wahala if and when it rains-which is a regular occurrence in this coastal region. My brother, I am the happiest man living in the white house”

Official Car Abandoned for Tractors, Environmental Unit Created

In order to cut cost, create jobs and keep the MAN environment greener and cleaner, bearing in mind the devastating effects of Global Warming, the Rector has exchanged his official, National Assembly approved car for Tractors.

Consequently, the Rector has created an Environmental Unit to, apart from cutting the ever growing grasses and shrubs which use to cost the Academy over N10m per quarter, fruit trees are also to be planted by the young men and women already employed by the Academy.

Globally, the challenges of Global Warming and its devastating effects on our immediate environments is impacting every one of us. While the International Maritime Organization, IMO, is working very hard at cutting emissions from ships, other United Nations agencies are not relenting in their efforts to keep our earth cleaner and safer.

Experts have warned that rising carbon dioxide levels from global warming would drastically reduce the amount of protein in staple crops such as rice and wheat. This will be leaving vulnerable populations at risk of growth and early death of 150 million people globally by 2050 due to protein deficiency.

The weather and agricultural experts are of the view that by 2050, higher CO2 concentrations would sap the protein contents of rice by 7%, wheat by 7.8% and other crops in similar margins.

The creation of the Environmental Unit by Commodore Effedua is therefore a welcomed development towards tackling Climate Change and keeping the MAN campus greener, cleaner, clearer and much more conducive for Academics as well as making planet earth safer and much more habitable.

Watch out for our comprehensive report on developmental strides/restructuring as it is happening at MAN.