*Compliance with IMO Regulations

*International Standards  Maintained

 *Structures and Facilities upgraded

The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua, (rtd) has reiterated that the Federal Government’s vision to Restructure and Reposition the Academy in line with global expectations and in order to achieve government’s objectives in establishing the Academy are on course and would be made manifest and impactful, very soon, in the overall national economic development of the country.

The Rector told our correspondent at a public function in Uyo that structures in the Academy are been redesigned, reconstructed and remodeled to ensure that they stand the test of time.

He also said he is mindful of quality of materials used because the structures will be inhabited by Nigerians whose safety cannot be compromised.

In his words “The Reconstruction is not just for today. It is for posterity. We are doing what we are doing with eyes on the future. The Academy is Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution. There are standards and guidelines clearly stated by the International Maritime Organization, IMO,  that we must comply with. Once it is observed that something has not been properly done, it is better to make the necessary correction/adjustments and move on”.

Structures and new land marks in the Academy indicate that within months of being appointed Rector, Effedua’s focus on turning around the fortunes of the Academy has stunned many stakeholders who continue to marvel at the pace of work and the visible upgrade of infrastructure in the Academy.

From Abuja and other parts of the country, visitors have marveled at the extent of work carried out by the Rector and his management team.

According to a visitor who was at the Academy recently, if the pace and quality of work being done is sustained, the Academy’s infrastructure deficit gap would soon be closed significantly.

In his words “Many of the challenges we face as a country is because we have misfits occupying positions they are not trained for. When a man knows what he is doing, when you have a square peg in a square hole, when a man is experienced and knowledgeable and you give him an assignment in his area of expertise, there is no way such a man will not deliver. The Rector is operating from a vantage position. He is on familiar terrain, Nigerians should expect more”.

Sources close to the Academy have revealed that contrary to initial fears of sack, the Rector is looking for ways and means to employ youths from the host communities and keep them positively engaged.

Specifically, the creation of an Environment Unit to keep the Academy clean and conducive has generated jobs for hundreds of youths from within the immediate host communities. This was made possible when the Rector had to convert funds meant for his official car as approved by the National Assembly, for tractors. He refurbished and serviced the old car he met for his use.

Recall that the Rector had also given up his official residence to staffs of the Academy as part of efforts to resolve accommodation issues affecting staffs of the institution.

A delighted beneficiary from the converted Rector’s Lodge (now known as White House), said “Change has come, the Academy has been liberated from the asphyxiating hold of strong men and women. Personalities, (if not deities) have been demystified, imagine me who knows nobody having a place to stay in the Academy, those who say “don’t judge a book by its cover” knows what they are talking about”

Several maritime analyst we spoke with concerning developments at MAN told us that with abandoned projects re-appraised, with contractors who ran away with mobilization funds made to return to site, with the level of commitment and quality of leadership as defined and shown by the Rector, manpower development for the maritime, oil and gas sectors of the economy are bound to reap copiously from quality Cadets/trained men/women from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.