Nigeria seeks IMO’s technical support to facilitate degree-awarding status for Maritime Academy of Nigeria

The Hon. Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, wants Nigeria to seek more technical assistance from the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) to improve the nation’s capacity to meet the increasing demands for maritime education and training.

The minister made this known on Thursday while giving his remark at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria’s 2022 Passing out Parade (PoP) ceremony, which held at the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Auditorium, in the Academy, Oron, Akwa Ibom.

Adegoroye also said that it was important that Nigeria sought technical support from the IMO to boost the capacity of the lecturers and trainers as well as assistance to secure required seatime on foreign-going vessels for the cadets, and for upgrading the Academy to a degree-awarding institution.

His words: “ It is heartwarming to note that Nigeria has enjoyed IMO Technical Assistance in the area of capacity training.

“It is equally worthy of note, that there is the need to seek greater technical cooperation between the IMO and Nigeria to enhance our capacity to meet the significantly increasing demands for maritime education and training in Nigeria.

“These needs includes but not limited to the following  support from the IMO in further training of the Academy`s instructors/lecturers and other personnel, support from the IMO to the Academy in securing the STCW Convention-required seatime onboard foreign-going ships for her teaming cadets, Technical Assistance from the IMO in converting the Academy from Diploma to Degree-awarding institution”

He also said it would be needful to have the Academy serve “as a sales-point for IMO books and publications in high demand by trainees; and, greater involvement of the Academy with the IMO`s seminars/conferences/workshops and other activities.”

The minister, like other industry key stakeholders, lauded the efforts of the Academy in ensuring quality maritime education and training in well-structured learning environment.

He charged the 233 graduands to be worthy ambassadors wherever they find themselves in the pursuit of careers in the maritime industry across the word.

“It is pertinent to note that great benefits await you all as graduate Cadets in the Maritime Sector in Nigeria and the world at large. Be worthy ambassadors.”

In a brief presentation showing the growth trajectory of the Academy from 2017 when he was appointed, the Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd.), told the audience of graduating cadets, industry stakeholders, parents as well as guests at the occasion how committed leadership enabled him and his team to arrive at what the world sees and admires today.

“We have been able to do this in the Academy because my background enabled me to stay focused and to give sincere and quality leadership for the structure we have built to work,” Effedua said.

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, represented by the Director of Safety at NIMASA, Engr. Olu Aladenusi, Chairperson of the Nigerian Shipowners Forum, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi, President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners, Captain Tajudeen Alao, Chairman of Starz Marine, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren, commended the Management of the Academy , and charged the graduating cadets on the need to serve as great ambassadors of the Academy and of the nation at large, wherever they go.

Highpoint of the graduation ceremony was the recognition of outstanding graduating students, who were presented with awards by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Academy, Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani(Rtd.).