233 Cadets graduate from  Academy;  Mesaiyete Taofiq Omotayo is  Best  Graduating Cadet.

Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye exchange ideas with the Rector during the 2022 POP at MAN

It was ovation all the way as dignitaries, guests, parents and guardians who witnessed the 2022 Passing Out Parade, POP, held in the ultra modern Rotimi Amaechi Auditorium inside the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, beheld the magnificence that has become the new identity of the Academy in recent years.

The Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye who led other top officials of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT, commended the Rector of the Academy, Cdre Duja Effedua Emmanuel (Rtd) and his management team for repositioning the Academy to take its place of pride among global maritime Academies.

“Compliance with IMO guidelines and strict adherence to international regulations by the Rector and his team has given birth to a modern Academy that we are very proud of, Adegoroye said.

The minister urged the graduating Cadets to be worthy ambassadors of the Academy as they have been given the best possible training any Academy could offer.

“Great opportunities await you all as Cadets in the maritime industry in Nigeria and the world at large. This great feat is being achieved through adherence to regulations, guidelines Conventions and Protocols of the IMO which has brough in advance technology in the global shipping industry”.

Mesaiyete Taofiq Omotayo, the Best  Graduating Cadet, receiving his prize from the Chairman Governing Board, MAN, Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani (rtd)

“On behalf of my humble self, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the Nigerian Maritime Stakeholders, I wish to congratulate the 2022 graduating Cadets, the Rector and entire Staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria for this momentous occasion in the life of these Cadets and the Maritime Industry. The Federal Ministry of Transportation joins the Academy in this celebration”.

“I also wish to express my appreciation to the lecturers that have imparted so much knoeledge on these Cadets, including those that worked behind the scenes to make these Cadets what they are today, their labour of love will never be forgotten.” Adegoroye said.

Maritime experts comprising former Cadets of the Academy, Master Mariners, Ship Captains who spoke during the POP, urged the Cadet to embraced the future with hope as they have the broad shoulders of many to lean on and learn from.

They were enjoined to be humble, disciplined and collaborate with others to achieve what they seek.

Chairperson of the Nigerian Ship owners’ Forum, Barr Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi told the female Cadets to be brave, competitive and hardworking

She emphasized that there is no alternative to hard work if they must achieve their dreams.

Do not be intimidated by the males, they are your colleagues. You must stand out and be bold.  Hard work has no gender; success has no gender as well, those who work hard succeed irrespective of gender, creed or colour.

The Rector who was crowned the father of Modern Maritime Academy of Nigeria by the  Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye at the 2022 POP, told the graduating Cadets that humility will open doors for them if they maintain the discipline inculcated in them in the Academy.

“Do whatever you are asked to do. Do not be proud. There is   reward for hard work, humility and discipline, if you carry out whatever  tasks you are assigned anywhere, anytime”

“While l was onboard at the beginning of my career, l carried out any task given to me, if you must go far in this business, you must be willing to serve and be respectful and humble. At a time l was treated as a rating, we painted, scrubbed floors and cleaned ships”.

“But l grew to become a captain of a ship, many senior officers in the navy passed through the basics like you, continue to learn and upgrade yourselves and get ready for more demanding tasks. Now you’re are stepping out into the next most important stage, to be successful in this career, hard work and discipline is not negotiable.  They essential requirements which you cannot run away from one.” the Rector said

Key maritime stakeholder at the graduation ceremony were the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, represented; President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao; Chairman, Starzs Investments Company Limited, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun, represented; President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Mfon Usoro, represented; Secretary General, (Abuja MoU), Captain Sunday Umoren former MAN Cadets, Media executives and many more.