The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron is operating the approved standards set for maritime education by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
According to the Rector of the institution, Mr. Joshua Okpo, the academy by its Act formerly a Nautical College was to provide training and education for shipboard officers and ratings, for shore-based management personnel.
What this means according to the Rector is that both middle and high level skilled manpower as well as sea captains and engineers were to be trained by the school and according to him the school since its establishment in 1979 by Act No. EC (77) 172, the institution had provided the maritime subsector with over 15,000 cadets, engineers, ship captains, seafarers and other personnel who were doing very well in both the maritime, oil and gas and the allied industries across the globe.
He said the academy as at today was operating in accordance with the IMO standards for certification of seafarers under the STWC 2010 Mandilla Convention, which had kept Nigeria on the IMO “White List”.
On the mixed-up about the Academy being given a university or a degree awarding status, he said that though, a private bill was sponsored in the House of Representatives for the academy to become a university which had passed second reading, but that the institution management was not carried along.
He said that the institution had made their position known to the authorities.
Speaking further, he said if the school was made a university outright, it might lose it relevance, as well as push Nigeria off the IMO white list”.
Also, the status of the institution would be defeated as providing low, middle and high levels manpower for the industry.
Okpo said the position of management of the academy to government was to make it a degree awarding institution to keep in line with the IMO standards.
The curricula across its degree programmes should be skilled-base and professionally conditioned.
On the standards of training and infrastructural upgrade in the institution, the Rector said that since he assumed office, he had opened the infrastructural land scape of the school from phase one to phase three, to rank among the best in the world.
During a tour of facilities, it was discovered that the school was developing in phases, starting from phase one to phase three with well-planned structures for conducive learning.
The Rector, Joshua Okpo was like a man in a mission to rescue, he has put the institution on the world maritime map, despite the challenges.
Today the school can boast of a world class jetty, full bridge simulators, over 2000 sitting refectory, e-library, 1,000 capacity auditorium, well equipped clinic, engineering workshops, staff quarters, mini stadium etc.
As President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to reform the maritime, oil and gas sector, it is hoped that the Maritime Academy Oron would be a reference point for training of personnel that will provide the needed technological know-how that will move the sector forward.
Also, as oil prices dwindle on a daily basis, it is hoped that, the country can make its fortunes by investing in the maritime sector.
MAN, Oron will be the needed power house to churn out quality and qualified manpower both for home use and exports.
The current Rector is doing very well to keep the academy in standard with the IMO required status.
It will only be better if the current Rector is allowed to continue the good work he is doing to drive the prospects of the school forward.
Send your news, press releases/articles to info@primetimereporters.com. Also, Follow us on Twitter @Reportersinfo and on Facebook at facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
