Maritime Professionals, CEOs, Ship Owners Laud Initiative

Talk about opportunities in adversity and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria is one institution which has refused to bow to the blows and fiery darts of Covid19, as the Academy after launching its online lectures for its Cadets is set to begin online short Courses for maritime professionals in Nigeria.

Credible sources in the Academy hinted that the moves is part of efforts to reposition the Academy for irreversible progress and growth in line with vision of the Federal Government.

According to our sources, the online short courses will enable maritime and Oil and Gas Professionals register for short courses of their choice online, make payment online, receive lectures/trainings online and have their certificates delivered to them by courier.

The Rector flanked by his men

Speaking on this Development, the Rector clarified that the online short courses is, like the online lectures, further deployment of existing infrastructure which has been strengthened and expanded to deliver quality services from the Academy to the Maritime and Oil and Gas sectors of the economy.

In the words of the Rector “From what we have seen in the online lectures, we have the capacity to deliver short courses to all professionals who value the need to upgrade and update themselves and remain relevant in their careers.”

“We are able to run six online lectures simultaneously in the Academy. Apart from our Cadets, several other professionals took part and witnessed the live lectures. We have even improved on our connectivity, strengthened our backbone and expanded our scope of online deliveries”

“Like I have said before, we planned and prepared for this eventuality long ago, Covid19 is just an unfortunate development that ignited our resolve to stay on top and remain focused on our goals and objectives”

Recall that the Rector Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) has insisted that restructuring and repositioning the Academy for global competitiveness is a challenge that he is committed to meet.

MAN Cadets in Class

Maritime professionals who spoke with us on the online Lectures/Short Courses initiative described it as a welcome development which will further enhance maritime professionalism in Nigeria.

President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, Dr. Mcgeorge Onyung, applauded the idea of the online short courses by the management of MAN. According to him, “The world is going digital if it has not gone already, I just wish we could acquire more ships so that Cadets can move from one stage of their training to another seamlessly without delays”

“In China, every child from the age of three has a computer, I understand the Academy has provided its Cadets with laptops to facilitate their studies. Online activities are being done across continents and I think it is a good thing that the Academy is moving in that direction”

Commodore Duja Effedua, Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

The President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, NAMM,   Captain Tajudeen Alao, while commenting on the digitalization of trainings at MAN stated “Look, there is what is called primary evidence in law. I actually participated in one online training course and witnessed others, I lecture in UNILAG and I know what I go through trying to get students do one thing or another online to keep them active and engaged but some feel you are disturbing them”

“What the Rector is doing is good because when people stay at home they become lazy and dull. Some become brain dead so you need to push them to keep them busy”.

Captain Alao expressed fears on the sustainability of what has been achieved by the Effedua led management when he said “We have never had it so good at the Academy. The structures and facilities which exist now at the Academy are wonderful”

“Other Rectors had good intentions but the political will has been lacking. Maybe It’s the soldier in the present Rector, I just pray government gets an insider to succeed him in order to sustain what has been achieved but if they bring an outsider, I am afraid we could be back to where Effedua met the Academy”.

Already; infrastructural development, facility upgrade, lecture theatres, hostel accommodation for Cadets and residential quarters for staffs of the Academy have gotten attention and boosted far beyond what used to be.

A Lecture theatre at the Academy

Simulators and other training equipment have been procured and could arrive the Academy any moment.

The hon. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi during a visit to the Academy promised to support and reposition the Academy for excellence.

The Rector explaining to the Minister during the ministerial visit

In his words “Nigeria is so blessed with natural resources in the maritime industry. If all that needed to be done are judiciously done, it may start attracting interests from experts outside the country. That means if this institution is given necessary support through provision of world-class equipment, sound and adequate academic staff, quality infrastructure and competitive market value for Cadets, it can compete favourably with her counterparts across the globe”.

Whether the minister is matching words with action we cannot say but that global competitiveness and regional superiority in Maritime Education and Training, MET, is dawning at the Academy.

Several PhD holders are among lecturers at the Academy-this is even as Mr. Raja Rhajivera, an Indian, is one of foreign lecturers waiting to resume at the Academy.

With the expected Simulators, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria could emerge a regional super power in Maritime Education soonest.

On this the Rector said “We are not in competition. Other Academies are free to come and use our facilities and equipment for their trainings. It is all about national development and improvement of our maritime operations”.

“Like I have said and will continue to maintain I am just a face in the crowd”