Effedua mourns passing of Otunba Folarin…recounts his support for the Maritime Academy

Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron Akwa Ibom, Commodore Duja Effedua(Rtd.), has extolled late Otunba Kunle Folarin, who passed away in Lagos on Tuesday, aged 82.

Effedua recalled how late Otunba Folarin, who was Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) and Chairman of the National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB), supported the Academy on the purchase of training equipment, and kept visiting the Academy sharing knowledge sessions with the cadets.

“Otunba Folarin was in Bombay while we were in Delhi to purchase training equipment for the Academy. Knowing what we were in Delhi for, he spoke to me giving assurances that he knew the Chairman of the company and would ensure we got a good deal for the purchase.

“He left what he came to do in Bombay and came to meet us in Delhi, because they knew him as their major business partner. Surprisingly, he stayed with us at his own expense and ensured that the deal was closed and favourable for Nigeria. Of course, because of him we got a very fantastic deal,” Effedua said.

Speaking on Otunba Folarin’s visits to the Academy, the Rector said: “He visited the Academy four times on his own expense, just to come and see the progress of how we were using the equipment and what was going on.

“He had interactive sessions with the cadets and all done on his own expense.  There is hardly any week he won’t chat or call me. Even when I felt a bit uncomfortable that he was doing all these on his own, he didn’t see it so; he just wanted to make his mark in mentoring. No doubt, he will be greatly missed.

“However, the Academy is happy at this point that we honoured him while he was alive, by naming a street after him in the Academy,” Effedua said.