Akinsoji’s thoughts on new training facilities, lecturer capacity building programmes at MAN, Oron
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| Engr. Olu Akinsoji |
At this junction, the family
members of the Federal Ministry of Transport, particularly the maritime
transport agencies, should now refer to studies that have indicated that their
performances are hampered by insufficient knowledge for the delivery of
functions relating to marine transport technical and managerial duties.
members of the Federal Ministry of Transport, particularly the maritime
transport agencies, should now refer to studies that have indicated that their
performances are hampered by insufficient knowledge for the delivery of
functions relating to marine transport technical and managerial duties.
In
order to be more productive in service deliveries, a concerted effort should be
made to give formal and specialised knowledge to those who are posted to
relevant duties.
The knowledge, skill
and experience must not be taken for granted or assumed without assessment of capability
in any marine technical and operational post.
and experience must not be taken for granted or assumed without assessment of capability
in any marine technical and operational post.
These training needs were
envisaged, not only for sea-going but
also for our waterways, marine equipment
operations, pilotage and good
understanding of marine transport technical operation and maintenance. It is
for this reason that the Academy was established as a member of the family of
the Transport Ministry.
envisaged, not only for sea-going but
also for our waterways, marine equipment
operations, pilotage and good
understanding of marine transport technical operation and maintenance. It is
for this reason that the Academy was established as a member of the family of
the Transport Ministry.
Over the years maritime transport agencies have sent
staff to foreign countries for training that could easily be done in our
country at the Academy by collaboration to establish the courses or school of
such studies at the Academy thus strengthening our institutional base and
developing our infrastructure.
staff to foreign countries for training that could easily be done in our
country at the Academy by collaboration to establish the courses or school of
such studies at the Academy thus strengthening our institutional base and
developing our infrastructure.
For example,
we were told that NPA bought a simulator recently for the training of
pilots, presumably to establish training
within its domain.
we were told that NPA bought a simulator recently for the training of
pilots, presumably to establish training
within its domain.
This action is objectionable, NPA as a member of the
transport family should have invited the Academy and in collaboration establish
a School of Pilotage at the Academy and support the school with the simulator.
transport family should have invited the Academy and in collaboration establish
a School of Pilotage at the Academy and support the school with the simulator.
This procedure will allow the Academy to fulfill its national statutory function
of training pilots.
In addition, it will enhance the capacity of the Academy to
train all other pilots and vessels’ operators in our waterways thereby
enhancing the safety of navigation.
of training pilots.
In addition, it will enhance the capacity of the Academy to
train all other pilots and vessels’ operators in our waterways thereby
enhancing the safety of navigation.
The pathway of the Academy with the
successful initiative and support of the Honourable Minister should encourage all the family members of
the Transport Ministry to search for their training needs and collaborate with
the Academy to enable it fulfill its purpose of enhancing the technical and
operational human capacity of the maritime industry of our country.
successful initiative and support of the Honourable Minister should encourage all the family members of
the Transport Ministry to search for their training needs and collaborate with
the Academy to enable it fulfill its purpose of enhancing the technical and
operational human capacity of the maritime industry of our country.
I am aware that other
institutions are being established to offer similar courses as the Academy
which in my opinion is to open wider doors for our human capacity development.
institutions are being established to offer similar courses as the Academy
which in my opinion is to open wider doors for our human capacity development.
Irrespective of this fact, I am also aware
that the establishment of these new institutions is not intended to wish away
the already long standing and respected relationship that the Academy has built
with UNDP, IMO and its organs including
other bilateral friendly countries.
that the establishment of these new institutions is not intended to wish away
the already long standing and respected relationship that the Academy has built
with UNDP, IMO and its organs including
other bilateral friendly countries.
Apart from the Academy being an essential
link in the chain of our maritime development, it is an established component of
our pride in the comity of maritime nations.
link in the chain of our maritime development, it is an established component of
our pride in the comity of maritime nations.
It is therefore a plead for the
maritime agencies of the transport ministry to embrace the Academy for mutual
benefits that will enhance their capacity for productivity and service
delivery.
maritime agencies of the transport ministry to embrace the Academy for mutual
benefits that will enhance their capacity for productivity and service
delivery.
Finally, the Academy management under Commodore Emmanuel Effedua (rtd) is commendable.
He is, however, encouraged to increase his effort in the services to the IOCs and also
initiate an enforcement procedure for mandatory training programmes for all the
inland waterway vessel operators to enhance safety, security , pollution control and gainful transport services.
initiate an enforcement procedure for mandatory training programmes for all the
inland waterway vessel operators to enhance safety, security , pollution control and gainful transport services.
Olu Akinsoji, a renowned Marine Engineer, has served Nigeria in various capacities including being a Sole Administrator of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
