Stakeholders Extol Management Team

As Rector says “We have Evolved”

Mfon Usoro presenting a certificate to one of the graduating Cadets.

The Minister of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has call on the management team of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, to step up and do more in the coming years in order to ensure that the Academy does not back track into the ugly years from which it is emerging.

Speaking at the 2021 Passing Out Parade, POP, of the  Academy, the minister  represented by Mrs. Asmau Adaji, Deputy Director, Maritime Safety and Security Department FMOT, charged the Cdr. Effedua led management team to work harder to surpass the level of transformation attained thus far in the Academy even as he congratulated the graduating Cadets and charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever they find themselves.

dignitaries at the event

The 2021 Passing Out Parade, POP,  held under very strict observance of Covid19 protocols at the Ultra-Modern Rotimi Amaechi Auditorium, had Barrister Mrs. Mfon Usoro as chairman of event.

The Minister said the 2021 Cadets have no reason not to succeed in their careers, considering the international standard and exposure offered them by the Academy.

According to the minister “This Academy has been fully re-positioned to meet both local, regional and continental training needs of those interested in maritime and seafaring. With its modern training equipment, world class facilities and professional human resources, the Academy has become the centre of attraction in Cadet-ship/seafaring.

“This is a historic event, as you go out there, be good ambassadors, excel and make your parents and Nigeria proud. You are special because you learnt and trained under internationally standard and we trust that you will excel wherever you find yourselves”, the minister said.

The Chairman of the event and President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, CILT, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, expressed joy at the transformation recorded under the current management of the Academy.

In her words “As in drove in here this morning, I was wondering if this is the same Academy that we use to know. The environment was captivating, the structures, the pervading harmony was a far departure from what used to be and I wondered how all this could have been achieved”

The Rector and other dignitaries at the 2021 POP

“It is one thing to hear about developments is it another thing to witness it yourself, I salute the Rector and his team for a job well done. This Academy is now world Class, no doubt about it” Usoro said.

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Captains Tajudeen Alao, Adewale Ishola and other maritime professionals in their good will messages at the POP all spoke in the same vein. They commended the Rector for the turnaround witnessed in the Academy.

All who spoke agreed that the Academy has what is required to provide world class training in the maritime/Oil and Gas sector. They echoed that going or sending trainees abroad for training is a waste of time and resource.

While challenging the graduating Cadets to roll up their sleeves and face the future with hope and determination, the stakeholders urged them not to be intimidated by anybody or anything.

According to Capt Alao, “If those who were trained under harsh conditions, when training equipment and facilities were lacking are today holding top positions in shipping/oil and gas companies across the world, you who have had the privilege of training with modern equipment have no excuse”

The President of the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO), Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, a graduate of the Academy, was emotional when making his remarks at the 2021 POP ceremony.

“The last time I was here, some months back, I thought I had seen it all only to arrive yesterday and see new things which I never expected in the Academy. I must say the Rector is a blessing to the Academy, he has made the impossible possible without noise, no blame no accusations against anybody”.

“If many of us who passed through this Academy under less favourable circumstances/learning conditions are able to hold our own and stand out in the shipping community, this set of graduating Cadets have no excuse whatsoever not to succeed” Maiguwa said.

“We Have Evolved”-Rector

The Rector of the Academy Commodore Duja Emmanuel Efedua (rtd), while thanking maritime stakeholders and guests at the POP for honouring their invitation, said notwithstanding the height reached in the restricting agenda thus far, said there is still more to be done.

The Rector is applauded for a job well done by Council members and maritime stakeholder at the 2021 POP

“There is still plenty of miles to cover, you cannot finish everything about the Academy in one day. But we will keep working until our time runs out. l am satisfied with what we have done so far, but there is still plenty work to be done, more ground to cover”, the Rector said.

The 2021 Passing out Cadets honour the Rector with an Award of Excellence

“If you guys have been to the Ocular Centre, you will appreciate some of our efforts in raising the bar in training of Cadets. In the absence of a training ship, we take them through virtual reality, we have gone International but people who don’t wish this country well will never see anything good in what we are doing”

In the days ahead we shall focus more on Capacity Building, maintenance/sustenance of existing infrastructure, equipment and facilities as well as look out for innovations in training/global shipping.

If you round the Academy right now,  you won’t see any expatriate taking anyone on anything anymore. it’s our people all the way. The Indians l got was just for a year’s contract. I brought them for transfer of knowledge, they trained and mentored some people. These in turn are training others. I took some of staffs to India, trained for one month plus on how to repair and operate the simulators; how to trouble shoot, so they’re fully independent now. They don’t need anybody to work those equipment anymore.

“The Academy has evolved in all ramifications. When you entered today, everywhere was glowing, right? We didn’t do any extra in preparation that visitors are coming, that’s how we are, its part of our new established culture”.

I will continue to insist that we are not in competition with anybody. Do your thing, we do our own. Nobody should see us as a rival, we just want to build capacity for the country. Whether you like it or not, the Academy is already a regional reference point. All we need to do is to project the Academy to the rest of the world.

Awards

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun flanked by the Award winning Cadets at the 2021 POP, MAN

Ubong Gregory, School of Nautical Studies, emerged overall best cadets of the year while Anagbogu Uchenna Claudio, stood out as the best graduating Cadet in the school of Marine Engineering. Both got automatic employment from Engr. Greg Ogbifun and hundreds of thousands in cash for their hard work.

The 2021 graduating Cadets consist of; School of Nautical Studies (HND 17), School of Engineering (HND 53), and School of Maritime Transport ( HND 27).

Also, School of Nautical Studies (ND 35), School of Engineering (ND 28), Electrical Electronics Engineering Technology (ND 13) and School of Maritime Transport (ND 20)

Stakeholders are optimistic that there is more to come from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria under Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) but definitely far from tired in serving Nigeria.