“Many universities don’t have what you have here”

The Rector with Reps on facility tour at the Academy

Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration that visited the Maritime Academy of Nigeria recently as part of their oversight function were so dazzled by the ambience and serenity of the MAN campus that several members of the committee inquired from the Rector what is required to be admitted into the Academy.

“I want to send my kid here” said a member.

“Me too” said another

“Once you meet our admission requirement, no problem” replied the Rector

“What is required?”, asked another

Rector: “Five credits which must include Mathematics and English including three science subjects and a minimum JAMB score of 160. Once you meet these requirements and you are able to scale through our screening process, you are admitted”

The Committee members in one of the Lecture theatres

Rep: That is okay, from what we have seen, I am going to work to make sure my kids come here for studies. Your facilities are super. Many universities don’t have what you have here. You have a wonderful environment, solid structures, air conditioned classrooms…

Rep: Lecture theatres…(laughter)

Rep: Yes, Lecture theatres. I have not seen such facilities in many of the institutions that I have visited. I think the next thing to do is to bring in foreign students which will even generate revenue for the country”

Other members of the committee nodded in agreement.

A Rep member interacts with a Female Cadet at MAN

Rector: “We are working in line with recommendations of the IMO. They have been very supportive and we must do everything we can to maintain and sustain the confidence we have built these past few years. All our lecture theatres are smart. You can broadcast to the world from any of the classes because they are digital and internet ready”.

The Rector further explained that what the Academy achieved with online lectures for Cadets of the Academy was not a fluke but a well thought out process and hard work

In his words “From what we have seen in our 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”

With commendations, expression of faith and approval for what is being done at the Academy, the National Assembly members pledged to support MAN in its quest for global competitiveness and make the School the envy of other maritime Academies within and beyond the West African sub region. They also expressed concern on how to sustain and consolidate on the progress made at MAN.

Recall that the Rector continues to insist that restructuring and repositioning the Academy for global competitiveness is a task that he is committed to accomplish.

In a chat with yours truly  some time ago, Chairman, Governing Council of MAN and Ambassador designate, Chief Ademola Seriki, reassured that efforts made and successes recorded thus far in the ongoing restructuring and repositioning of the Academy are the result of solid efforts.

He emphasized that because members of the Governing Council and management team of MAN, are working in sync, it will be very difficult, if not impossible to reverse the modest achievements which have crystalized in the Academy.

According to the chairman, “We are not working and doing what we are doing on impulse. We are working as a team with a shared vision and well thought out implementation plan which was agreed on after deliberations which took months to arrive at. Don’t forget there was an Interim Management Committee that crafted the restructuring roadmap which we are implementing and because the Council and Management have no areas of friction, our journey is bound to be smooth and hitch free”.

Speaking on infrastructure and training equipment/lecturers at the Academy, Seriki expressed confidence that though the present management met very little if anything on ground, a lot has been put in place by the Rector and his team to reposition the Academy and make it attractive to local and foreign students who seek careers in seafaring.

In his words “The turnaround is evident anywhere you turn in the Academy. From the gate to classrooms to hostels to refectory to auditorium-there is something new that has been done. Not just done for doing sake but done in line with the restructuring blueprint of the Academy” Chief Seriki stated.

Speaking on how the Rector has been make progress at the Academy, Chief Seriki said 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”.