As Ship Owner Scramble for MAN Cadets

The Acting Rector,

Dr. Kevin Okonna, Acting Rector, MAN

Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Dr. Kevin Okonna, has assured Maritime stakeholders and indeed citizens of the global Maritime community that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, is committed and working to take the Academy to greater heights as leadership of the school works in collaboration and synergy with local and international partners to ensure that the Academy surpasses regional and international expectations in the provision of very competent personnel for employers of labour in the Global shipping industry.

Welcoming stakeholders to the 2025, Passing Out Parade, POP, of the Academy, Dr. Okonna, exuding confidence, expertise, academic brilliance and professionalism, outlined what Management of the Academy has been able to achieve within twelve months of his leadership.

“Today, in line with the highlighted quality training and related capacity building of our cadets, the Academy is proud to announce the graduation of 221 cadets, fit for purpose, and ready for their excellent contributions to the Marine and Blue Economy sector”

“The graduating class embodies the Academy’s standards of discipline, technical competence, and professionalism”

“All the graduands have successfully met the Academy’s academic and practical requirements which a qualifies them to progress in their careers to seafarers
certification and employment as well as becoming maritime professionals in the global maritime industry. I proudly recommend them to you, stake holders, for employment”

The Rush To Grab MAN Cadets

Hardly had the Rector finished his speech followed by roll call of top graduating Cadets from the Academy in 2025, that the push and scramble for the Cadets began.

Engr. Greg Ogbeifun grabbed the top four graduating Cadets with very handsome cash awards for his company, Starz Investments Company Ltd.

Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, apparently wanted the top four graduating Cadets for his company, Bricks Mattoni Murstern Ltd, he asked the Rector to look  into the list of top graduating Cadets to secure at least four for his Company.

Arion Energy Services Ltd and Sea Transport Services Ltd were among Nigerian Companies at the 2025 POP which offered rewards to graduating Cadets and sought collaboration with the Academy towards getting Cadets for employment with them.

For the first time in many years, the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, offered fifty sea time slots for Cadets of the Academy even as the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd, NSML, is on the brink of reaching agreement with the Academy on placement of MAN Cadets on their vessels.

As the Acting Rector stated “I am happy to inform you that the Academy is working very hard to strengthen our partnership and we are very close to having a contract with the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), for the provision of onboard ship training for cadets of the Academy as well as many
other services that will lead to greater international opportunities for the cadets in the Academy”

Prizes and Awards

The Senator Wasiu Sani Eshilokun (Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport), is one of the many Awards and Prizes carted home by Chisom Anita (overall Best Graduating Cadet) and other Cadets who topped their mates in their chosen Seafaring careers.

The Nautical Institute UK, Arion Energy Services Ltd, Sea Transport Services Ltd, AMANO

Certifications/Partnerships

Dr. Okonna disclosed that the Academy is partnering and Collaborating with several institutions to take the Academy to greater heights globally.

“I am delighted to share that the Academy has completed Stage One of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) quality audit and we are preparing diligently for Stage Two as we move toward certification of our standards in line with ISO
9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and ISO 21001:2025 (Educational Organizational Management System (EOMS)”

“We have ensured the registration of all our Cadets with at least one international professional association, including the Nautical Institute, UK, IMarEST, UK and CILT Nigeria”

“The Nautical Institute has established the Nautical Institute Prize for the Best Graduating cadet in HND Nautical Science, including an award certificate and money in British Pounds for Nautical Science publications of the winners choice”

IMO Audit

“Few days ago, we hosted a team of Independent Evaluators from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the Academy for Independent Evaluation of Nigeria’s compliance with the Provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (as amended). Okonna said.

The 2025 POP had the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, members of the National Assembly, delegation from the Regional Maritime University, Ghana industry heavy weights such as Chief Adebayo Sarumi and  Dr. Dayo Mobereola, DG NIMASA, Master Mariners, Surveyors, Vessel Owners and Traditional Rulers in attendance.