As Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Equipment gets Ready For Launch

The Minister of State for transportation honorable Gbemisola Saraki has described the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, as one of the major intervention and achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari  led government.

Hon. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State, Transportation

Speaking in a documentary on the Academy broadcast on the Africa Independent Television, AIT, Saraki said government official and visitors to the school in recent times have expressed surprise at the unbelievable achievements by the Rector, Cdr, Duja Effedua Emmanuel (rtd) within a short period.

In her words, “It has been series of expression of surprise on the turnaround witnessed at the Academy by the Effedua led management”.

“Officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT, Senators and House of Representatives members, officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and safety Agency, NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and all persons who have been to the Academy have returned with tales of wonder at the work be done at the academy, without doubt the Academy is one of the shining lights of this government, no doubt about it”, Saraki said.

The minister’s position is supported by the Permanent Secretary of the FMOT Dr. Magdalene Ajani, who also featured in the documentary.

According to Dr. Ajani, “It is amazing what has been done at the Academy and the question we always ask the Rector is where are you getting money to do all this but the Rector will just smile and say it is collective effort”

The Rector making clarifications to the minister at the Engine Room Simulator

The minister of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, during the launch and commissioning of the Simulators being used for training at the Academy also expressed satisfaction at the level of work done so far in the bid to Restructure and Reposition the Academy.

“Why were all these not achieved in the past”, the minister asked journalists and other stakeholders at the Academy but no answer has been provided.

However, the Rector, who says he is just a face in the crowd among those working at the Academy, explained that his insistence on prudence and value for money in everything done at the Academy is the reason for the transformation taking place at the Academy.

According to him, “We stopped all frivolous patronages and award of meaningless contracts which add no value to the school but were used as means of settlements and unnecessary patronages which stagnated the Academy”

 “We blocked all areas observed as revenue waste/leakages and concentrated on developing the Academy. Those affected by this action went to town with petitions and all manners of sensational news and reports of their own imagination on social media and everywhere else they could have gullible audience”.

“We also had to write to agencies of government to investigate these shady characters and bring them to book but they are running and have become fugitives, men without address and contacts, denying their shadows, friends and associates in crime”.

“We have taken some of the blackmailers to court, others will be arraigned soon to explain the allegations and statements they made in the public space”

“From day one when I started work with the Interim Management Committee, a template for the restructuring and repositioning of the Academy was worked out and agreed on. This is what we are working with and so far so good”

Men of the IMC

Chief Adebayo Sarumi, Former ES/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Nigerian Ports Authority

Captain Adamu Isa Biu, Former ES/CEO, Nigerian Shippers’ Council

Commodore Duja Effedua Emmanuel-Rector

Engr. Olu Akinsoji, Former Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Former President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, Chairman/CEO Starz Investments Company (a ship building/management firm)

Dr. Kevin Okonna, Management Staff/Senior Lecturer, MAN

Arc. Otu Ita Otoyo Management staff/Senior Lecturer MAN.

“Alongside these eminent personalities, the vision we are executing was conceptualized and adopted as the template for the future of the Academy. It was a tough, very arduous task. We worked nights and days and we are thankful for the outcomes”

The Minister during an inspection tour of the Academy

“We remain very grateful to NIMASA and all other agencies, associations and stakeholders who have stood by us, we appeal to them to continue to stand with us so that Nigeria can have an Academy that Nigerians and indeed Africa can be proud of.

“Right now we have the training equipment,  we have the lecturers, we have the structures and facilities to deliver world class training that is obtainable anywhere in the world and I will continue to insist that anyone going outside the shores of Nigeria for any kind of maritime/Oil and Gas training is just wasting his time and resources”.

The question on the lips of maritime professionals and followers of events and developments in the industry is: will the heights attained at the Academy be sustained for onward progression or will there be a reversal/retreat, a crawl back into the dark abyss of the past?