“You Have To Convince Me”, Rector Insist

There is intense academic work ongoing at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, as final year Cadets of the institution are sweating to defend and justify their projects before management staff of the Academy.

dependables sources at the Academy told our reporter that the Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua, is insisting on higher academic excellence from this set of Cadets because of the dynamics of global shipping which has progressed from analogue to digital and heading to autonomous.

Speaking on the development with our Uyo correspondent, Christopher Eyo, the Rector said “We have made huge investments in training equipment. We have sacrificed to ensure that our Cadets received the best of training. We have given them best of hostels, we have digital lecture theatres, we provided them free books, configured laptops with installed learning material were given to them by management, for their comfort and wellbeing, we have to spend so much on diesel, we are moving to solar to save cost and go green in line with dictates of the International Maritime Organization, IMO.”

“The saying that that to whom much is given, much should be expected applies here. Our final year Cadets must convince us that they are ready for the world. They must justify the investments and sacrifices made by management on their behalf. It is either the best or nothing”

One of the Cadets defending his Project before the Academic panel.

“Any Cadet who cannot defend his or her final project and  convince management of their ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts from anywhere in the world will not receive our certificate” the Rector stated unambiguously.

Recall that IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim during this year’s celebration of the World Maritime day said, “Our theme ‘New technologies for greener shipping’ opens up a larger conversation about shipping’s direction and how technology can be harnessed for a more sustainable future”.

Ongoing Project Defence Session at MAN

Delivering a paper at the event the Rector told participants “If you have been to the Academy you will know that we have long gone green to avert the dangers which global warming is throwing up. Staying ahead is in our DNA at the Academy and as the world marks this year’s World Maritime Day, we are prepared and good to go”

On the level of compliance by the Academy, the Rector stated “We are very compliant because shipping is global and any institution, be it public or private must embrace global standards if it wants to stay relevant and accepted. So, whether you talk about Blue Economy or Greener Shipping we are on our toes at the Academy as we continue to work with stakeholders for an efficient industry”

Undoubtedly, recent global shipping events and advances in technology have combined to challenge trainers and researchers on the need to do more to advance shipping.

Understandably, the Rector and his management team may have raised the Academic bar in line with global demands and compliance to global best practices.