The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom, on Thursday graduated a total of 314 cadets from its National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
The Academy also formally launched an Enterprise Content Management System designed to boost its administrative processes.
A breakdown of the graduates figure showed that 260 completed the ND programme, and 54 completed the HND. Among ND graduands, 37 earned distinctions, 110 upper credits, 92 lower credits and 21 passes. On the HND programme, 27 obtained distinctions, 24 upper credits and three lower credits. On the overall, 64 cadets graduated with distinctions, 134 with upper credits, 95 with lower credits and 21 with passes.
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Sugra Tania Mahmood, who represented Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, told the gathering that a maritime nation’s strength should be showcased more in the competence of the professionals than on the number of ships or ports it own.
She said maritime education should produce professionals who are capable of securing meaningful work, competing internationally and driving Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, not merely to generate certificate holders. She added that success should be measured by graduates’ progression into professional certification and productive careers.
Mahmood emphasized the continued adherence to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended, and praised the academy’s STCW-compliant curricula in nautical science and maritime engineering together with its ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2025 certifications.
International confidence in Nigeria’s training system, she said, is essential if the country is to become a leading supplier of competent seafarers. She urged the new graduates to maintain discipline, integrity, technical competence and safety standards while embracing lifelong learning and emerging technologies, and reaffirmed federal support for the academy’s mandate.
She also formally unveiled the Enterprise Content Management System, describing it as part of the government’s broader digital transformation drive. The platform is intended to shift administrative work from paper-based processes to a more efficient, transparent and accountable digital environment, improving records management and internal workflows.
Speaking also, Acting Rector, Dr Kelvin Okonna, told the gathering that Academy had strengthened its training programmes, improved staff welfare and expanded partnerships. With support from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , it had secured collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the World Maritime University on pilot initiatives for green and digital shipping in sub-Saharan Africa.
