Reassures Stakeholders On Efficient Training

The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Cdre. Duja Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) has explained that even as the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, AMANO, means well for the Academy and Nigeria’s maritime industry, contacting the management before making public statements on issues concerning the operations of the Academy would have been desirable. This would remove controversies  and also avoid sending wrong signals to the general public.

The Multi-Functional Classroom Simulator

The Rector wondered why AMANO which has unfettered access to management of MAN could not seek management position on number of lecturers at the Academy prior to its media statement.

One of several Swimming Pools at the Academy

Speaking when Maritime Nigeria reached him on phone, the Rector said there was neither exodus nor shortage of lecturers at the Academy.

The HUETE Simulator  at MAN

“The Academy has over 13 lecturers with doctorate degrees, another 20 with Masters Degrees and many other professionals including those who have had experiences in operations within the Maritime industry. The Nigerian Navy, NPA and highly qualified expatriates are among our teaching staff and we are expecting at least four more expatriates to join our teaching staff before the end of the first quarter. We are also in talks with the Association of Master Mariners and their Engineering counterparts to seek their support on training activities at the institution”.

While agreeing with AMANO that maritime education is expensive, the Rector noted that the Academy has approached AMANO and other maritime professionals to support training activities at the Academy.

In his words “We have had discussions with members of AMANO on coming to lecture at the Academy. We hope they will take up the challenge. The AMANO president was with us during our last Passing Out Parade, POP, and he made contributions and very useful suggestions to developments at the Academy. So l want to believe that he was misquoted”.

“No matter how emotional we are on issues, there is need for balance and objectivity in order not to mislead the public”

“Stakeholders who were at our recent POP are aware that we have foreign lecturers who have applied to come and lecture at the Academy. Even as we speak, we are working on processing their visas and other travel documents so that they can come and join our team of lecturers at the Academy”

“I want to reassure Maritime stakeholders, oil and gas professionals that there is no cause for worry. We have the lecturers and very modern, sophisticated training Simulators on ground at the Academy for any kind of training they require either for their personal development or staff training” the Rector emphasized.

But like ‘Oliver Twist’ we will always want more specialists onboard to support our operations”. Commodore Effedua added with a smile.