Nigerian Government has been urged to be committed towards the development of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State in order to ensure the institution’s continue effort to train, promote, enhance competence and professionalism of cadets.
This clarification was made by the Registrar and acting Rector of the famous Maritime training varsity, Mr. Mkpandiok A. Mkpandiok while fielding questions from newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
Mkpandiok who with other management staff recently received award on academic excellence in maritime training conferred on MAN, Oron by the Uyo Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (UYOCCIMA) said the academy having been established for years now knows its challenges, what to do, where to go; but fund remains a big problem.
“If you want to have a world class seafarers, there are a lot of things needed in the Academy which government is yet to provide. There should be more commitment on the part of government to address the challenges of the maritime school.
“A merger budget given to us is not enough to run an academy Nigerians want in a country Nigeria is called giant of Africa. Maritime education and training is cost intensive whether we like it or not.
“There should be training vessels without which you stagnate the career of a cadet, because after the two years training period they supposed to board a training vessel for a mandatory period of 18 months without that they cannot become officers”, he stressed
As part of the challenges facing the institution, he said the Academy is in dire need of facilities including simulators, functional swimming pool, e-library and up to date books and journals for cadets, students and lecturers as well as sector professionals, Master Mariners and Chief Engineers.
“There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to enforce a policy of compulsory engagement of MAN, Oron cadets by foreign and indigenous sea-going vessels, for acquisition of the 18-month mandatory sea-time experience required of them, as a window to their seafaring practice”, Mkpandiok stated.
According to him, dearth of quality seafarers in the maritime sector in the country was due to lack of progression in the training and profession.
“Most of the Nigeria cadets after completing two years in the Academy that is their end; and they cannot progress that is the reason for the dearth of quality seafarers in the maritime industry”, he maintained.
The Acting Rector expressed the desire of the management to work closely with the Federal Government and its organs to encourage the upgrading of the Academy’s status to degree-awarding institution.
To achieve this, he said “if Nigeria must get it right in producing world class and competent professionals for the maritime sector of the economy, certain measures must be put in place in addition to making the Oron Academy a Maritime University.
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