As part of efforts to expose Nigerian cadets to the modern equipment in their training, the Chairman, Port Consultative Council [PCC], Otunba Kunle Folarin has urged all private maritime institutions across the country to intermittently send their students to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria [MAN], Oron in Akwa Ibom State, saying that it is the only academy with adequate infrastructures.
As part of efforts to expose Nigerian cadets to the modern equipment in their training, the Chairman, Port Consultative Council [PCC], Otunba Kunle Folarin has urged all private maritime institutions across the country to intermittently send their students to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria [MAN], Oron in Akwa Ibom State, saying that it is the only academy with adequate infrastructures.
Folarin told Shipping Position Daily in Lagos that most of the private institutes are not fully equipped with facilities that can empower cadets; he called on the privately-operated academies to come together, send students to Oron for more exposure on the use of advance equipment.
According to the PCC chair, who also doubles as the Chairman, National Seafarers Welfare Board, ‘’there could be joint services by the private maritime schools to expose their students to simulators and other equipment that they lack’’.
‘’We need to have at least one centre that have all the practical facilities therefore we need to have a meeting point whereby they can share those facilities and MAN, Oron is more advanced with equipment to serve as a central point”.
He said that the private maritime institutions in the country are running their courses to the best of their abilities, adding that they are concentrating in meeting the requirement of the STWC.
Folarin said lack of fund would have restricted the private schools from advancing in their curriculums and has also given rise to the need for youths to embrace MAN, Oron.
‘‘For a diploma to be recognized, they need to cover a curriculum that is strong, acceptable worldwide and the curriculum will include training in other equipment ,they need to upgrade those institutions to the level that they will be able to introduce those courses in their curriculum, that will make their diploma acceptable to ship owners ‘’.
He said MAN, Oron gets its funds from the federal government which has made it to reach the level it is at the moment, but added that the private schools face a lot of challenges to acquire modern equipment for cadets.
He noted that the private school lack facilities like simulators and other major equipment which will empower the students with practical knowledge, pointing out that it is germane for schools to expose cadets to the use of modern equipment.
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