After many years of abandonment, the multi-million dollar simulator that was acquired for the training of cadets at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom state will be ready for commissioning in a few weeks.
Confirming the good news to Shipping Position Weekly at the institution’s campus in Oron last week, the academy’s Rector, Mr Nsenyen Ebong acknowledged that the project had taken too long to be completed, but expressed happiness that with its completion, the history of the academy is about to change.
The simulator, an essential ingredient for the training of cadets of marine engineering and nautical sciences was imported into the country for the academy under the tenure of Mr Ferdinand Agu as the director of the then-National Maritime Authourity (NMA), but could not be installed since then.
But an obviously elated Ebong told Shipping Position Weekly shortly after conducting our correspondent round the building that will house the all-important equipment that there will be four simulators and that the complex “will be commissioned in three weeks”, stressing that “it will catapult us to another level in the area of training”.
He also confirmed that actual furnishing of the complex has commenced and that about 200 computers are expected to be installed in the building under a special federal government grant to aid the academy’s information technology craze.
Our correspondent also confirmed that the institution is embarking on massive infrastructural development and massive construction of new buildings such as: new female hostel, staff quarters and completion of the abandoned nautical complex for use by cadets of nautical sciences.
Perhaps the most ambitious are the new sports complex and the ship and boat building yard. The sports complex which is nearing completion comprises of a survival pool, football field, a basket ball pitch, a gymnasium
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