As Foreign Certified Lecturers, others Resume At MAN

The Acting Rector receiving the “Acceptance Certificate” for the Academy’s simulators from the representative of Applied Research International (ARI)

Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Dr. Kevin Okonna, has disclosed that the school is ready and well prepared to deliver on it national mandate as well as provide leadership as a specialized Maritime Education and Training Institution  in Nigeria and globally.

Speaking at a recent 3rd Quarter 2025 Citizens and Stakeholders’ engagement forum at the Academy, Dr. Okonna said the  Academy which has contributed immensely to human capacity development in Nigeria’s maritime industry,   is being repositioned for better service delivery under the current Management and Governing Council in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Highlighting development in the Academy, the Acting Rector said, “Since January 2025, the Academy has employed and engaged a total of seven (7) marine professional lecturers, including: two  Master Mariners with Unlimited (Foreign Going) Certificates of Competency (including the expatriate Master Mariner and Simulator Training Expert who left the Academy in October 2021 and is rejoining the Academy;  One Master Coastal Navigation (with other Foreign Going CoCs), One Chief Engineer (Unlimited), One Chief Mate (Unlimited), and two Deck officers (with Unlimited (Foreign Going) Certificates of Competency)”

Dr. Okonna further told stakeholders that the Academy has a total of 97 Teaching staff comprising, Seven (7) appropriately qualified, competent and experienced Master Mariners and Chief Engineers, twenty (20) Simulator Instructors and maintenance staff trained in line with the International maritime Organization’s (IMO) Model Course 6.09 (Training Course for Instructors) and IMO Model Course 6.10 (Training Course for Simulator Instructors) and several other professional lecturers with varying levels of qualification, competence and experience, including three expatriates.

The Acting Rector receiving the “Acceptance Certificate” for the Academy’s simulators from the representative of Applied Research International (ARI)

He said with pride that  the Academy is continuing to expand on its training offering and facilities and therefore is continually seeking the employment of appropriately qualified and experienced professional lecturers/instructors.

“The current Management has, under the policy direction and committed support of the Governing Council, led by Engr. Kehinde Akinola, taken strategic decisions to ensure continual improvement in training standards and facilities, infrastructural development, employment of more lecturers/instructors, capacity building of the staff and provision of staff welfare”

The Acting Rector outlined recent efforts in different areas of the Academy:

Training Equipment

The Academy recently acquired state-of-the-art simulators that are being perfectly maintained and utilized for STCW mandatory training of its cadets and short courses participants from the industry. The simulators include; a 30-trainee-station Multifunctional Classroom (MFC) Simulator, Full Mission Bridge Simulator, Full Mission Engine Room Simulator, and Virtual Reality (Ocular Vision) Simulator. The Multi-Functional Classroom (MFC) Simulator has eight (8) part-task simulators including; Radar/ARPA, ECDIS, GMDSS, Navigation/Manoeuvring, Dynamic Positioning, Liquid Cargo Handling, High Voltage, and Engine Room simulators in one classroom, and it is an innovation created through the partnership between the Academy and the globally recognized simulator manufacturers, the Applied Research International (ARI). The simulators have both International and Nigerian Port Areas and navigational channels for exercises. All the simulator-based courses are accredited and many of the courses are always fully booked ahead of schedule.

Training In Numbers

While the Academy trained a total of 4595 participants in short courses in 2024, the institution had already received and trained a total of 3217 participants as at August 2025 in the 48 mandatory short courses and Certificates of Competency preparatory classes, including 12 simulator-based courses on offer in the institution.

Power/Electricity

Purchased 3 brand new transformers and collaborated with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution (PHED) company to intervene on the Eket-Oron power supply line to reconnect public power to the Academy after about eight (8) years with improved power supply in the institution and in the entire Oron host community, after a very long time.

Staff Training/Welfare

For the first time since its establishment, the Academy has completed the development of Conditions and Scheme of Service for staff of the Academy and obtained the recommendations of the Governing Council of the Academy and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, where it is receiving attention;

Strategic Development Plan

Completed, under the policy direction of the Governing Council, the development of a 5-Year Strategic Development Plan for the institution which has been recommended to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy for consideration, adoption and approval

Hostels Upgrade

Totally rehabilitated all the male and female cadets’ hostels, replaced all dilapidated furniture and installed solar power as alternative source of power in all the cadets and short courses hostels in the Academy.

Aside the above, efforts of the present Management in the last ten months are far reaching we lack space to accommodate them at this time.

Earlier in his remarks at the event, the Minister of  the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry,  His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, Con declared that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria  over the years, has remained a cornerstone of human capacity development for our maritime industry.

“Through its programs, training, and commitment to excellence, the Academy continues to produce the manpower required to keep our sector vibrant and competitive.  The Academy is a reaffirmation of our collective vision: to advance Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy through collaboration, innovation, and excellence in maritime education and training” the Minister said.

From all indications, the Maritime Academy is steadfast and fully committed to advancing Maritime Education and Training in Nigeria and extend same to neighbouring countries.