Master Mariners, Ship Owners Urge Management to Avoid Distractions

With the arrival of Ocular vision simulators in addition to installed and launched modern training Simulators at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, maritime stakeholders have called for increased vigilance by the management of MAN on the restructuring and repositioning task and ensure that the Academy becomes a world class training institution.

Captain Tajudeen Alao, the President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners,  NAMM, has urged the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN,  Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua, (rtd) to avoid distractions and stay focused on carrying out the task of restructuring and repositioning the Academy.

Capt Tajudeen Aloa

Speaking with our correspondent in Lagos, Capt.  Alao said, “Let me disabuse your mind by telling you that the Academy is in safe hands and heading in the right direction under the Rector, unlike in the past, we now have an academy.

According to Captain Alao, “The academy in 15 years or more had no simulators, what was there as Simulators were kept in one room and both the software and other components went obsolete.  This Rector against all odds has acquired modern simulators. The company that sold and delivered them is on ground to install and train the people of Oron on how to operate and maintain the simulators”

“In 2001, I was part of a team that went to Norway for training on Simulators. We trained on how to instruct, operate and examine with simulators.  We have suggested this model to the Rector so that they can use same model on the simulators that they have now at the Academy, this will be good for the country”. The Academy is doing the instructor and Operator aspect but the Examiner component should be included to make the training all encompassing”

Engr. Alao said the Academy and the issue of petitions are like Siamese   twins. He therefore urged the Rector and his management team to concentrate on their work and continue on the path that they have decided to go.

In his words “You cannot abandon your work for over two years and be collecting salary. That is a criminal offense. MAN is a national institution and there are laws and rules guiding its operations. You cannot violate civil service rules and expect not to face the consequences”.

Moving forward, Alao expressed hope that after many years of trying, the Academy now has a face, structure and training equipment that every Nigerian should be proud of adding that what is needed now is focus and concentration by the management team.

“This is not the time to listen to side talks and distractions”, he said.

He called on the Federal government to do everything to maintain and sustain what is on ground at the Academy and not allowed the one step forward and twenty steps backward syndrome which has affected many facets of the Nigerian economy to reoccur at the Academy.

SOAN President

In his comments on development at MAN, the just re-elected President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, Dr. Mcgeorge Onyung said Nigerians should focus on changing the gloomy narrative pervading the Nigerian maritime industry instead of dissipating energy on unsubstantiated issues.

“In terms of training equipment, I think the present management has done well, they should keep it up, stay focused and avoid distractions. The Academy has been down for decades, the present Rector and his team have shown commitment to duty and development of the Academy, they are on course and must maintain the momentum”

“The Academy is meant to train cadets for our ships and if you don’t have ships where will the Cadets go to after their training”?

The Rector of MAN and SOAN President at the Academy

“The NNPC is not giving us jobs and unemployment and insecurity issues are affecting all of us, these are issues that should bother every right-thinking citizen”

“We should be thinking of how to unlock the potential of the industry by acquiring ships making Cabotage work and increasing local content in the oil and gas industry and creating opportunities for jobs and employment”

“How do you expect to be employed when there are no vacancies anywhere?

“We have bigger issues to contend with but if anyone thinks petition writing and name calling is what concern him or her at this critical moment let’s see where that will take any of us to”, the SOAN President said.

The Multi Functional Classroom Simulator

Recall that the Academy recently launched its Multi-Functional Classroom,  Full Mission Bridge and Full Mission Engine room simulators at the Academy.

Speaking on training equipment at the Academy, the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd), said “The Ocular Vision Simulators in addition to the Multi-functional Classroom and others 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.

The Rector with Reps on facility tour at the Academy

Specifically, the Rector revealed that “The Multifunctional Classrooms can accommodate not less than 30 Cadets per training session. No country in the sub region has the kind of equipment we have brought 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”

“I tell you very authoritatively that going abroad for any kind of training when we have these simulators in the Academy is a waste of time and resources. Why pay for flight, accommodation and pay training fees when you can get same training, using the same kind of equipment right here at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.” The Rector said.