2021 World Maritime Day: Encomiums Trail MAN Rector over Performance
Maritime stakeholders have continued to laud the ingenuity of the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd.), at repositioning the nation’s premier maritime institution for global competitiveness.
At the just concluded 2021 World Maritime Day celebration in Lagos, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, expressed satisfaction at the standard of training and educational facilities put in place by the Rector.
The Honourable Minister expressed delight at the upgrades in the Academy and noted "If you go to the Academy today, you will see that there is remarkable transformation there".
On his part, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubaairu Gambo, commended the administrative acumen of the Rector at providing standard education for Seafarers at the Academy.
The Chief of Naval Staff who was represented by Rear Admiral Abraham Adaji, said the Rector has redefined maritime education and training in Nigeria and has restored the lost glory of Nigeria in the comity of maritime nations.
‘‘Nigeria has a large population of youths and the shipping industry provides a veritable opportunity for employment or engagement of these youths. It is in this regard that I commend the transformative efforts ongoing at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, because for some time, Nigeria had lost its place and was unable to effectively contribute manpower to global shipping, but with this development, in the near future we will not only provide manpower, we will be able to provide adequate skilled manpower who would take up the opportunities that abound in the maritime industry”, he said.
Meanwhile, during his presentation, "Standardization of Training and Certification of Seafarers to ensure Global Development in Shipping through Partnership" the Rector stated that the Academy under his watch has evolved into a Centre of Excellence in maritime training and education, stressing that it makes no difference for Nigerians to travel abroad for maritime related trainings since the Academy has been adequately equipped with state-of-the-art educational facilities to handle these trainings.
“The Academy now has equipment for practical trainings compared to any Academy in the world, we have a Multi-Functional Classroom Simulator, we also have a Full Mission Bridge, Full Mission Engine and the even the Ocular Vision, Nigeria is among the first 6 countries in the world to have the multifunctional classroom, so why go outside when the facilities are available in the Academy,” he said.
The Rector also stated that asides from the Basic Mandatory Short Courses on offer in the Academy, additional 13 new courses on simulation awareness including Dynamic Positioning and High Voltage have been developed in compliance with the standards of the International Maritime Organization, IMO.
He stated that, the Academy is no more on the same level "our Simulators are the latest in the world of simulation and can be used for training on Dynamic Positioning, High Voltage, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) amongst others".
He highlighted that standardization of training and certification of seafarers to ensure global development in shipping through partnerships could be facilitated through Capacity Building in training institutions, which according to him will strengthen the faculties as well as ensure adequate supply of quality and efficient manpower.
Commodore Effedua reasoned that investments by private individuals in the area of shipbuilding, development ports and dockyards, establishment of maritime training institutions, sponsorship of researches that support development of innovations are possible areas of partnerships that could equally facilitate global shipping development making reference to the recent successful trial of an autonomous vessel.
Effedua's administrative acumen is evident in the area of infrastructural offering in the Academy. He has intelligently tackled the daunting responsibility of restoring the lost glory of the nation's premier maritime training and education centre. The stigma of lack of educational infrastructures the Academy was characterized with is now history. The Academy also has 4 Survival Training Pools, Smart Classrooms, seasoned lecturers and a conducive learning environment.
“For over 19 years the Academy never had a pool, but under the present Honourable Minister we have been able to construct 4 Survival Training Pools. Recently, we got a letter from Equatorial Guinea requesting to have their Cadets trained in the Academy; also shipping companies send us letters requesting that we recommend our ex-cadets for employment in their organizations and we have recommended so many”, he said
This year’s World Maritime Day, tagged “Seafarers at the Core of Shipping’s Future” was aimed at celebrating Seafarers for their invaluable contributions to the development of the world's economy.
About MAN:
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria established in 1979, is the nation's premier maritime education and training institution. It was designed as an integrated institution for the education and training of shipboard officers, ratings and shore-based management personnel. The scope of the college was upgraded by the promulgation Decree No. 16 of 1988 with a statutory mandate to train all levels and categories of personnel required for the effective and efficient operation of all facets of the Nigerian Maritime Industry.
Author
Public Affairs Department