As Oyetola Insists On Professionalism, Consistency and Growth

For Management and staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, the evolution from an unknown, rejected, if not despised Maritime Training Institution, MTI, to the renewed focus and commitment by the Federal Government to restructure and reposition the Academy for global excellence by adopting best practices, embracing international standards and insisting on adopted regulations/guidelines as outlined by the International Maritime Organization, IMO, the door to a new door dawn has been unlocked as the Academy becomes the new bride and destination of choice for maritime professionals, employers of labour and trainers.

His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister, Marine and Blue Economy

The Minister of the Marine and Blue Economy ministry, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, a firm, purposeful and visionary leader, who insists on professionalism, accountability, continuity and progress in deference to the Renewed Hope Agenda of  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has undoubtedly provided the requisite leadership and demonstrated the political will to ensure that the Ministry delivers on its advertised and acknowledged potentials to serve as the buffer and backbone of the Nigerian Economy by serving as the  alternate revenue source for national development.

Maritime stakeholders and keen followers/observers of developments are unanimous that all Agencies under the supervision of Minister Oyetola are aligned and working more together to advance the country economically.

They point to the reelection of Nigeria into the IMO Governing Council as a feat and indication of unity as former clash of interest as well as duplication/conflict of mandate execution gives way to collaboration and cooperation in the interest of the people and country.

At the Maritime Academy, Dr. Kevin Okonna, as Acting Rector, has led with passion, commitment and dedication, bringing his many years of experience and inside knowledge of the Academy to bear and shape his decisions to the admiration and endorsement by maritime stakeholders.

Dr. Kevin Okonna, Acting Rector, delivering his speech at the induction ceremony

Dr. Okonna cannot be described as one who knows it all. No one possesses such omnipotent capacity. Refer to him as the man who saw tomorrow and you would not be wrong.

At a time when his peers and associates were leaving the Academy in droves, lured away by juicy, irresistible offers and mouthwatering perks, Dr. Okonna rejected such offers and chose the rusty, creepy, bushy, stained walls and unkept, unswept lawns of the Academy, preferring to remain in the then hot and very uncomfortable offices of the then  Academy-one can only imagine the emotional turmoil which Dr. Okonna must have been through within the months and years preceding his “unreasonable” decision-from family, close friends and associates

If he did not see the crystallization of today, the globalization and throng of experts to the Academy from then, what did he see?- (Let us reserve the Pressure and inputs By Captain Hambali Yusuf for another day)

Credit must be given to the Minister Oyetola for his acute sense and choices in the selection of men to man strategic agencies under his ministry.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has stood by the Academy in its programmes and projects in repositioning the Academy. It is on record that the present Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, is the first DG, to attend a Passing Out Parade, POP, of the Academy attesting to the synergy and unity of purposed preached by the Minister.

Breaking The Sea Time Jinx

The Ship Owner Association of Nigeria, SOAN, stunned stakeholders at the last POP of the Academy when it announced sixty slots of Sea Time for Cadets of the Academy. The audacity and boldness with which the slots were given sent tongues wagging and brains tinkering on the reality and do-ability of the promise.

Maritime Policy makers and professionals present at the event were further dazed when Nigerian companies offered more sea time slots and almost fell out with each other as they struggled for graduating Cadets of the Academy for engagement in their companies- trust me, Okonna’s table must be overflowing with requests from companies seeking to employ Cadets of the Academy as soon as they graduate.

Arion Energy Services Ltd and Sea Transport Services Ltd were among companies which offered Sea time slots for Cadets even as the Nautical Institute UK partnered the Academy to boost its training.

According to Dr. Okonna “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 winner’s choice”

The NSML Bold Action and Foresight.

During the 2025 POP, the Ag Rector announced discussions between MAN and the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd, NSML.

Representative of the Honourable Minister, Director, Information & PR, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Anastasia Ogbonna (m front row), flanked by the Acting Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna (r,), Managing Director, NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), Abdulkadir Ahmed (l), and Members of Academy’s Management with first batch of thirty (30) cadets from Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, inducted by NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) for their mandatory one-year sea-time experience.

“I am happy to inform 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” Dr. Okonna said.

In line with the provisions of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, thirteen (13) MAN Cadets alongside others from the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, Delta State were Inducted for Sea Time by NSML on December 19, 2025, in Lagos.

On February 2026 in Port Harcourt, another set of thirty (30) MAN Cadets were again Inducted by NSML for Sea Time on board the company’s vessels.

“I am honest to tell you that today is one of my happiest days as the Acting Rector/CEO of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. It is my understanding that through the MAN/NSML partnership, Nigeria is assuring the global maritime industry that the country has the capacity and is committed to making its contributions to the supply of quality seafarers to the industry” an elated Dr. Okonna said at the event.

The Managing Director of NSML, Abdullkadir Ahmed, was very categorical when he said “For us in NSML, this initiative aligns squarely with our purpose and our organizational values of developing qualified, competent, and safety-conscious seafarers.  This is not just an activity, it is part of the DNA of NSML, it is who we are, and why we exist. Every investment we make in training reinforces our commitment to excellence, operational safety and national development”

Dr. Dr. Kevin Okonna knew what he was talking about when he stated that greater achievements are incubating at the Academy.