Set for OPITO Certification, Gets Simulators, Multi functional Classrooms, Others

Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd.),    Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, located along college road Oron, in Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria, has increased its training momentum and up the ante in the quest to ensure that Cadets and other professionals who come to the Academy for professional courses get the best in tandem with global standards.

MAN Lecturers on training in India

Apart from sending lecturers abroad on trainings to enhance their teaching competences, Cadets of the Academy have also returned from studies abroad as part of planned exposure/training by the Academy for its staffs and Cadets.

This even as the Academy, Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution is set to receive a Full Mission Bridge Simulator and another Full Mission Engine Room Simulator in addition to other training equipment which have been procured and secured by the Academy.

Speaking with Maritime Insider from outside the country, Rector of the Academy, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd.), explained that these state of the art equipment on arrival will galvanize and take trainings at the Academy to the next level.

As part of preparations for the arrival of the simulators, not less than fifteen senior lecturers of the Academy have been sent to India, for training on how to handle, maintain and ensure optimal utilization of the simulators.

According to the Rector, “We made sure that the training component was included in the purchase of the Simulators because we must learn from and improve on previous experiences”.

“These simulator in addition to the Multi-functional Classroom which we are also expecting within the first quarter or latest by April will enhance the training of our cadets on Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Electronic Charts, Blind Pilotage, Tactical Navigation, Ship Stability, Rules of the Road and what is known as High Voltage training”.

Effedua disclosed that the simulators are modern, brand new equipment which will provide huge opportunities for manpower development for Nigeria’s maritime and Oil and Gas industries.

Specifically, the Rector revealed that “The Multifunctional Classroom which we are expecting can accommodate not less than 30 Cadets per training session. This should arrive the Academy in the next three months at most”.

“No country in the sub region has the kind of equipment we are bringing to the Academy. They are designed and built for purpose. These are not off the shelf generic equipment and we are confident that their arrival and installation will rejuvenate and catapult our trainings beyond the expectations of our stakeholders”

The Rector further disclosed that “The entire maritime industry, the Oil and Gas sector have a lot to gain from these modern equipment we are bringing to the Academy for the country. Refresher courses are now more than ever before available on a higher, improved scale and because we are concerned about the entire country, we shall be open to discussions with other schools which want to take advantage of our equipment to improve on their trainings for the good of the country”.

As the restructuring and repositioning of the Academy gains higher altitude, the Rector hinted that his focus is to rebrand the Academy, make it competitive and a force to reckon with as far as Maritime Education and Training,  MET, is concerned.

In his words “We just returned from a journey abroad to some countries in furtherance of our vision for the Academy in line with Federal Government mandate. We have started the process for the procurement of a Helicopter Underwater Training Equipment. We are also in discussion to get Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization, OPITO, Certification”.

“Before this year runs out, we shall engage the services of a quality assurance company to carry out audit of the Academy. This is to enable us know where we are and prepare/plan for the journey ahead. The audit is also intended to keep the Academy fit and ready for the future as well as avoid a backward slide into the dark days from which we are emerging”

Bags Best Maritime Training Institution Award

The coveted NIMASA Awards

On how the Academy emerged the Best 2019 Maritime Training Institution at NIMASA Merit Awards, the elated Rector said, it is a call to duty and a reminder that people are watching and noting developments at the Academy.

Particularly, Effedua thanked the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and his team at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT, for their support and encouragement.

 

The Rector also gave glowing tribute to the  Chairman and members of the Governing Council of the Academy as well as the Chief Adebayo Sarumi led Interim Ministerial Committee (IMC) on the restructuring the Academy.

The Minister during an inspection tour of the Academy

The immense support and cooperation of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and his management team, the Rector also acknowledged as the enabling factors in achieving the modest achievements leading to the unprecedented Award from a regulatory institution of the caliber of NIMASA.

Beaming with smiles the Rector said “We appreciate the Award, it poses a huge challenge as it puts us on our feet and takes away the sleep from our eyes as we strive to achieve our mandate. Management and staff including Cadets of the Academy are further encouraged to aim for academic excellence in everything they do”

As stakeholder await the arrival of the Simulators, multi-functional classrooms and other training equipment at the Academy, expectations are high on the new impetus the Rector and his management team has brought to bear on trainings at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.