MaritimeNews

FG To Address Seatime Woes Limiting Nigerian Seafarers

MAN Oron graduates 157 Cadets, considers nighttime programmes

The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, has stated that the Ministry has begun exploring approaches to address seatime challenges limiting Nigerian seafarers.

Oyetola revealed this during the 2023 graduation ceremony of cadets at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, on Thursday, when the Academy graduated 157 cadets.

FG To Address Seatime Woes Limiting Nigerian Seafarers
The Director, Safety and Security, Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, Mr. Babatunde Bombata speaking at the 2023 Cadets graduation ceremony of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, on Thursday.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Safety and Security, Mr. Babatunde Bombata, reassured the federal government’s commitment to address the seatime problems affecting Nigerian seafarers.

While stressing that maritime sector could play a crucial role in Nigeria’s economic development, the Minister posited that the nation would rely on the skillsets and efficiency of the new MAN Oron graduands to attain the desired blue economy growth.

Speaking from the prism of legislators, the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety and Education, Hon. Alphonsius Uduak, assured that the National Assembly will continue to play its role in projecting the ideals of the maritime academy and the blue economy ministry.

While congratulating the cadets, he challenged the new graduates to display resilience and professionalism that will make them worthy ambassadors of the academic institution and the nation.

Addressing the Rector, the lawmaker said: “Please continue to use funds allocated to the Academy judiciously to benefit the school, the industry and the country.”

Earlier, the Rector of MAN Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), encouraged the new graduates to display high-level professionalism and humility in their careers.

Effedua stressed that the Academy was at par or superior to most maritime training institutions around the world in terms of the state-of-the-art facilities and technologies.

“Every course that is done abroad for pre-sea training is also done at the Academy and the facilities we have are first-class. We also offer simulator based courses which aren’t done in any other country in West Africa.”

“Nigeria is presently on the White List of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). So, MAN Oron is recognized by the IMO and the Abuja MoU recognizes us. We have so many MAN Oron cadets all over the world. IMO donates books frequently because they recognize us,” the Rector said.

The Rector opined that the Academy is considering nighttime programmes and other alternative programmes to cater for the massive influx of students, disclosing that the Academy is already oversubscribed for the 2024 academic year.

FG To Address Seatime Woes Limiting Nigerian Seafarers
A section of MAN Oron cadets during their graduation ceremony on Thursday.

In his goodwill remarks, the President, Alumni of MAN Oron (AMANO), Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa encouraged the new graduands not to shy away from risks and mistakes at the elementary stage of their careers.

Maiguwa observed that some of the mistakes the new graduates will see themselves making would shapen them as experts in their respective fields in few years.

The ceremony also featured the special recognition of the some students who distinguished themselves including: Best Student, HND Nautical Science -Esua James Maxwell; Best Student, HND Marine Engineering – Igweike Nkem Jeremiah; Best Student HND, Marine Transport and Business Studies, and overall best female HND student – Udiminue Mary Sunday; while Igweike Nkem bagged overall best HND student and overall best 2023 graduating student.

For the National Diploma (ND) category, Nwakuche Supreme Celestine emerged Best Student in Nautical Science; Best Student in Marine Engineering – Okafor Emmanuel Chukwuemeka; Best Student in Electrical Electronic Engineering – Augustine Emmanuel Oromose; Maritime Transport and Business Studies, Ogidan Iyioluwa Rhema; while Okafor Emmanuel emerged overall best ND student.

The event was graced several maritime bigwigs including; the President, Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), Engr. Israel Obadan; President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt. Tadjudeen Alao; Secretary General, Abuja MOU, Capt. Sunday Umoren; Rear Admiral Francis Akpan; former NAMM President, Capt. Adewale Ishola; among others.

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