The Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua, ( rtd ) has reiterated that the Federal Government’s vision to Restructure and Reposition the Academy in line with global expectations and in order to achieve government’s objectives in establishing the Academy are on course and would be made manifest and impactful, very soon, in the overall national economic development of the country.
The Rector told newsmen at a public function in Uyo recently that structures in the Academy are being redesigned, reconstructed and remodeled to ensure that they stand the test of time.
He also said he is mindful of quality of materials used because the structures will be inhabited by Nigerians whose safety cannot be compromised.
In his words: “The Reconstruction is not just for today. It is for posterity. We are doing what we are doing with eyes on the future. The Academy is Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution. There are standards and guidelines clearly stated by the International Maritime Organization, IMO, that we must comply with. Once it is observed that something has not been properly done, it is better to make the necessary correction/adjustments and move on”.
Structures and new land marks in the Academy indicate that within months of being appointed Rector, Effedua’s focus on turning around the fortunes of the Academy has stunned many stakeholders who continue to marvel at the pace of work and the visible upgrade of infrastructure in the Academy.
According to a visitor who was at the Academy recently, if the pace and quality of work being done is sustained, the Academy’s infrastructure deficit gap would soon be closed significantly.
In his words “Many of the challenges we face as a country is because we have misfits occupying positions they are not trained for. When a man knows what he is doing, when you have a square peg in a square hole, when a man is experienced and knowledgeable and you give him an assignment in his area of expertise, there is no way such a man will not deliver. The Rector is operating from a vantage position. He is on familiar terrain, Nigerians should expect more”.
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