When Mr. Ferdinand Agu, former Director General of the defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA), now Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , and the Hydrographer of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Ayo Olugbode, visited the Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom, both men expressed admiration at the transformation they saw.
Agu who stopped by the Academy during a visit to Akwa Ibom State, expressed satisfaction with the ambience of the learning environment and the quality of the training equipment and facilities put in place by the management team led by the Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd).
While commending the Rector for visionary leadership and efforts, Agu also appreciated the Federal Ministry of Transportation, FMOT and other revered maritime stakeholders for their invaluable contributions towards transforming the Academy into an institution of global reckoning and excellence in maritime education and training.
They both expressed satisfaction with what has been done at the Academy to provide exceptional quality training to the various categories of manpower required for the effective operation of merchant navy ships and other categories of vessels.
The former DG expressed optimism that the Nigerian maritime sector would be better if similar development could be replicated in other agencies/institutions.
“I have visited several Maritime Academies within and outside Africa. The quality of equipment, the facilities, and the ambience of the MAN, Oron environment are things you rarely come across anywhere,”Agu said.
On his part Rear Admiral Olugbode said he was not surprised at what he saw at the Academy.
“I have known the Rector for decades. We know him for excellence when he was with us at the Navy, as a stickler for perfection. In fact, I would have been surprised if I have seen anything less than what I have seen and I do not think it is finished yet. With Duja you can be sure he has a lot up his sleeves.”
Apart from the swimming pools, Agu and Rear Admiral Olugbode also saw the Helicopter underwater Escape Training (HUET) facility and the Ocular Vision Training Equipment, which they tested.
Excited to receive the visitors, the Rector thanked them for finding time to come see things for themselves at the Academy.
His words: “We are always happy when stakeholders come around. This gives them the opportunity to get first-hand experience and not hearsay. We do not prepare for visitors, come anytime you want to, we are ready to receive you. We do not have time to window dress or makeup anything, what you see is what we are. Whatever your views are, we welcome them and we move on.
I have said it before and i will say it again that in terms of preparation and equipment for training, we are on top in Africa and among the best in the world. There is nothing in any other academy anywhere in the world that we don’t have; Things have changed for good and we thank all those who have worked with us to bring us to where we are.
“Any maritime, oil and gas and other category of worker desiring to progress in their careers should come get training at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria. Going outside Nigeria for training which we can provide at cheaper rates is double tragedy for such persons because such a trip is a waste of time and money.”
