As VIPs Jostle for Admission

Barr. Mfon Usoro, Former DG, NIMASA

Those who are have conscientiously followed developments at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, may have deliberately chosen to forget the story of the Academy prior to the appointment of Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) in 2017 with the Presidential mandate to restructure and reposition the Academy for global competitiveness-it was a sink or swim order.

Cdr. Duja Effedua Emmanuel, Rector, MAN

Hanging onto the past stalls speed, dissipates energy, distracts attention, diminishes focus which translates to excuses and ends, very often, in catastrophic failure.

It is understandable therefore why discussions on the Academy in recent years have shifted from the past to what the present Rector and his team have done and are doing.

Manpower

One major task the Rector and his team embarked upon on assumption of office was staff audit and reappraisal. While the objective was to ascertain the staff strength, qualifications and manpower needs of the Academy, those who wanted the Academy to remain on its unsatisfactory developmental stagnation, went to town with tales of   “They want to sack us”.

Mfon Usoro presenting a certificate to a  graduating Cadet

Till date, from available information at our disposal, no staff diligent in his/her duties has been sacked. Only those with questionable certificates/character have been summoned for explanations, queried and or asked to face disciplinary committee(s) for further hearing on such matters within the Academy.

Redeployments

In a bid to maximize potentials and ensure that square pegs and placed in square holes, the staff audit revealed strengths and weaknesses among staff as is common in all organizations and agencies of government/private sector.

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

Again, some staff who have served in one unit for decades wanted to remain where they have worked. Whether for or against the interest of the Academy we do not know but the vehemence with which some staff tried to resist new postings following redeployments as decided by the Effedua led management made stakeholders to call for further investigation of such individuals. We are not privy to info on what management did then-without doubt, what was done has definitely contributed to where the Academy is today

Cadets/Admission

One major paradigm shift of the current management is the policy on admission and number of Cadets admitted by the Academy.

Whereas hundreds of Cadet were admitted annually before the appointment of Cdr, Effedua, the need to comply with guidelines of the International Maritime Organization, IMO, led to the reduction in number of Cadets admitted by the Academy from 2018 to date.

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

Also Read: https://maritimenig.com/2022/01/man-unveils-lighthouse-for-training-of-cadets

Structures/Facilities

The reduction in number of Cadet intake by the Academy is part of the remodeling of Classrooms and Hostels which have become so classy and cozy-so much so that VIPs are pushing to have their children/wards admitted at the Academy.

Also read: https://maritimenig.com/2021/12/rector-decry-maritime-incidents

Training Equipment

When asked if more training equipment are expected at the Academy, the Rector said. “In terms of equipment, we have 99 per cent of all equipment that should be in any maritime Academy. And in our own case, we have the best. We never had any before, but now we have acquired the latest training equipment available”.

The Minister at the Chart room with a Cadet of the Academy

“All we need to do is to maintain the facilities/equipment and consolidate on Capacity Building, because that is where we need to push harder. Already, we depend less on our foreign partners. What the first set of Indians were doing for us, our people can do even better because our people were trained in India. Those Indians only came to stay for one year to help dot the ‘Is’ and cross the ‘Ts’. If you go round now, our staffs are the ones doing it all; they maintain, they repair and they train”.

The Multi Functional Classroom Simulator

“From the onset we made sure that the training component was included in the purchase of the Simulators because we must learn from and improve on previous experiences”.

Also Read:    https://maritimenig.com/2021/12/maritime-academy-of-nigeria-from-rubbles-to-bubbles

“Because of the training equipment the Academy can boast of now, we can train 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”.

The Rector and Chief Engr. Gupta briefing the Minister at the Engine Room Simulator

Effedua disclosed that the simulators are modern, brand new equipment which will provide huge opportunities for manpower development in Nigeria’s maritime and Oil and Gas industries.

The Rector explains a point to Hon Lynda Ikpeazu during the visit

Specifically, the Rector revealed that “The Multifunctional Classroom which we have can accommodate not less than 30 Cadets per training session. It is the combination of several Simulators which lecturers and students can always adjust and reset to do whatever they want to do”

The HUETE Simulator being installed at MAN

“No country in the sub region has the kind of equipment we have in Academy. They are designed and built for purpose. They are not off the shelf generic equipment and we are confident that their availability for training will rejuvenate and catapult our training beyond the expectations of our stakeholders”

National Interest

On how the training equipment could benefit the entire country, the Rector explained “The entire maritime industry, the Oil and Gas sector have a lot to gain from the equipment we have installed at the Academy for the country. Refresher courses are now more than ever before available on a higher, improved scale and because we are concerned about the entire country, we shall be open to discussions with other schools which want to take advantage of our equipment to improve on their trainings for the good of the country”

Also Read: https://maritimenig.com/2021/10/man-we-are-ready-for-the-world-rector

What Stakeholders Say

Senator Gbemi Saraki, (Minister of State Transportation)

“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”,

Dr. Magdalene Ajani. (Permanent Secretary, FMOT)

“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 responsibility”

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun,

“I wept when one Cadet muttered “Is it because we are children of nobody that we have to suffer like this”? This was when we came for inspection during the transition period of the IMC. I was very touched by those words and I wish I could meet that Cadet again. It’s a thing of joy that the story has changed for good. I know some prominent persons who are pushing to send their children to this Academy, isn’t it wonderful”?

Barr. Mrs Mfon Usoro, (Former DG NIMASA, Abuja MoU)

“You have no excuse. You are the luckiest set of Cadets to graduate from this Academy. You have been trained with the best of equipment by very knowledgeable lecturers. What more can you ask for? Go out there and make Nigeria proud”.

Also Read  https://maritimenig.com/2021/07/the-academy-is-a-shining-light-of-the-buhari-govt-saraki

Captain Tajudeen Alao, (President Nigeria Association of Master Mariners)

“The Rector has achieved so much, the rest is to consolidate and then thank God for taking him this far, because I don’t think he even realizes what he has done. People like us who have put in over 40 years in the sector, appreciate his efforts. The Academy would have been closed down some 30 years ago, but what we have on ground there today are world standard; the survival pool is Olympic standard, what else can one ask for?

Capt. Tajudeen Alao

Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO)

Mr. Maiguwa Emmanuel is the AMANO President, speaking at a recent event at the Academy, he said, “Former Cadets of this Academy who studied here when the facilities and training equipment were not as sophisticated as what you have today are holding their own, commanding ships, managing shipping companies and other top management positions within and outside Nigeria, you very lucky ones have no excuse whatsoever. The Academy has given you everything, the rest is up to you. We are very proud of the Academy.

Dr. McGeorge Onyung, (President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria)

“I must commend the Rector and his management team for their vision, commitment and taste for quality. What I have seen is a sharp contrast to the previous stories of poor management, obsolete or complete lack of quality infrastructure, dearth of modern training equipment, half-baked Cadets and inadequate professionals to handle core maritime courses”.

Dr. Mcgeorge Onyung, SOAN President

“I can now say that the Academy has a future. It is on course. I am quite satisfied. This is what gives us the courage and incentive to encourage this institution the more. It all points to the fact that with the right person in the right place, things can work in this country”

Future of the Academy

Speaking on the future of the Academy the Rector said “The ongoing restructuring is not just for today. It is for posterity. We are doing what we are doing with eyes on the future. The Academy is Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution. There are standards and guidelines clearly stated by the International Maritime Organization, IMO, which we must comply with. Once it is observed that something has not been properly done, it is better to make the necessary correction/adjustments and move on”

Ibom Air Staff on Safety drill and ditching exercise at the Academy

“Looking at the little we have done, we have actually exceeded our projections. One major challenge has been irregular funding, but what we get we managed well-which has made me enemy number one to some very idle, low life persons whose lives apparently depended on the Academy’s finances. Unfortunately for such persons, who have resorted to blackmail, threats and other very unorthodox ways and means to extort the Academy, we will neither succumb nor glorify individuals at the expense of MAN”

While stakeholders say the Academy has evolved, the Rector is of the view that there’s more ground to cover as the task of restructuring and repositioning the Academy continues.

“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”.

“All of us at the Academy, both management and staff are involved and i am just a face in the crowd”, the Rector insists