Their jaundiced, pecuniary, distorted postulations are as fictitious as those who conjure them”

The rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua, has reiterated his commitment to carry out the task of restructuring and repositioning the Academy as assigned to him by the Federal government.

Commodore Duja Emmanue Effedua (rtd), Rector, MAN

In a chat with our correspondent, the Rector emphasized that making the Academy attractive to students and ensuring compliance with standards set by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, is a major objective of the management of the Academy which is being implemented in line with the developmental master plan of the Academy as churned out by the Interim Management Committee, IMC, prior to his appointment as Rector.

According to the Rector, “The Academy is over 40 years old. We have worked very hard to change the old narrative, changed the public perception and put the Academy on the world map”

“Unfortunately, some persons somewhere want the old order which kept the Academy down to continue. we cannot allow that to happen and this is why all kinds of stories are being spewed by faceless characters hiding behind fictitious names to misinform the public on what we are doing at the Academy. Their jaundiced, pecuniary, distorted postulations are as fictitious as those who conjure them”

“We have been able to carry out effective visible changes at the Academy by blocking revenue leakages. We stopped award of frivolous contracts, stopped wastages and saved for the Academy.

“Those who benefited from the rot of the past are the ones spreading fake news around.

“We cannot be blackmailed to derail from our development plans which we have toiled very hard to effect in the past three years.

Swimming Pool of the Academy

“The Academy is a training institution not an oil company nor local government area. When we came in the Academy had no swimming pool, no simulators, the hostels and classrooms were in terrible conditions.”

“Today under this new management, we have constructed two standard swimming pools, bought brand-new simulators, our classrooms are now smart and digitally compliant, our hostels have been remodeled and made ensuite with two cadets to a room with standard wardrobes and toilets”

“We have engaged foreign and indigenous very qualified lecturers and visitors to the academy have consistently commended our noble efforts. We are humbled by such commendations and we shall continue to stay focused and do our work diligently.

The Multi-Functional Classroom Simulator

“We will not allow some disgruntled hungry angry persons who want access to accounts of the Academy for their selfish interest to distract us and mar our efforts.

“Our books are open. Our mandate is clear. The mandate we are given is not ambiguous. To restructure and reposition the Academy is our mission and we shall execute this mandate with utmost commitment. Those who are aggrieved should be bold enough to show their faces, state their case and let the word hear”.

“The reforms we are carrying out is for the good of the Academy. There is no personal agenda at all”

A Lecture theatre at the Academy

“Take for instance the issue of fake certificates, is it not a crime to forge certificates? Is the Academy the first or the only institution to carry out such exercise”?

“When I assume duty as Rector, there were all manners of contracts awarded to all kinds of persons, we took time to review them all, those that we found genuine were paid, several contractors who could not substantiate their claims have disappeared and refused to honour our invitations”

CSR

“From our meagre resources we have been able to reach out to our host communities as best we can.

“We donated computers, writing desk and chairs, built ICT centres, supplied computers to schools, carried out trainings and employed several youths.”

“We have been supplying diesel to the Oron clinic because pregnant women were asked to buy diesel before delivery and inability of some to do so resulted in deaths hence our intervention. Painful as it may be, we will have to stop this because there are allegations that we didn’t supply diesel and the money was stolen. We are also told that even the computers we installed in some schools have been uninstalled and sold”

“One journalist, within our host community, who we assisted in his trying moments is facing prosecution at the moment, others will follow because we believe in due process. “We have interacted very closely and warmly with leaders of the communities and it is saddening that they are not calling their sons to order. Whatever their agenda is, we shall not be cowed”

“Everything we have done so far is from our savings. We cut down on expenses, blocked revenue leakages and insisted on value-for-money in everything. This is how we have been able to do what we have done”

“The funding template for the Academy has not changed neither has its revenue base increased.”

“We pity rumour-mongers who think the Academy is their cashcow/lifeline, we advise them to look elsewhere because there is no money to share at the Academy”

“Citizens should work hard, earn their living and desist from spreading falsehood because the courts are there and we shall not shy from approaching the courts in due time even as we are determined to sue those who are publishing defamatory materials. They will appear in court soon”, the Rector said.