Maritime Academy of Nigeria trains 15 lecturers on simulator handling, sets for OPITO Certification
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom, has sent fifteen of its lectures to India for a one-month training period on how to man simulators, which the Academy recently acquired
and expect to arrive Nigeria in batches from mid-February to April 2020.
and expect to arrive Nigeria in batches from mid-February to April 2020.
Rector of the Academy, Commodore Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd.) who disclosed this in a telephone chat, said that the Academy had also started the process of including OPITO Certification on its training programmes.
Effedua explained that following the production of all the simulators, the first batch of 15 lecturers from the Academy, last Friday, began classes on how to operate the Full Mission Bridge
Simulator in India.
Simulator in India.
He said that with the simulators, cadets would be effectively trained on Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Electronic Charts, Blind Pilotage, Tactical Navigation, Ship
Stability, Rules of the Road as well as High Voltage training.
Stability, Rules of the Road as well as High Voltage training.
The Rector added that the simulators, which are modern equipment and the latest of their kind offer huge benefits for cadet training and to the maritime sector.
His Words; “We shall be receiving the three simulators from mid-February to April this year. The first that shall arrive is the Full Mission Bridge Simulator which 15 lecturers of the Academy are learning to operate now on India.
“Once we receive Ministerial approval, another set of 15 lecturers will also proceed to India for training. We made sure we added in the contract, the component on training our staff who will man them. That’s where we are now.
“We shall also receive the Full Mission Engine Rooms Simulator and the Multifunctional Classroom, which can accommodate 30 cadets at a time before the end of April.
“With that, we shall be first in the sub-continent to own such equipment and this has a multiplier
effect in the industry. These equipment are the latest. They are modern, not generic. Built for purpose.
effect in the industry. These equipment are the latest. They are modern, not generic. Built for purpose.
“A lot has been said about High Voltage training, the simulators will handle that now. The maritime
industry can leverage on this too for refresher courses. We shall be open to also discuss with schools who want to use our equipment for training.
industry can leverage on this too for refresher courses. We shall be open to also discuss with schools who want to use our equipment for training.
On the school’s focus this year, Effedua stated that conscious effort is being made to broaden the school’s training portfolio, purchase more training equipment and have a Quality Assurance firm audit the Academy.
He expressed team’s commitment to vigorously pursuing its 2020 agenda so as to place the school on a pedestal that is globally acceptable and competitive.
He disclosed that he had just returned from Scotland where discussion for the acquisition of a Helicopter Underwater Training Equipment and efforts to add OPITO Certification to the
Academy’s offers have been initiated.
Academy’s offers have been initiated.
He said these are important steps to placing the Academy on the global map and ensuring that Nigerians get the best quality in terms of maritime education.
The Academy expects to make the procurement and secure the needed approval to run the OPITO Certification programmes by December.
“We just returned from Scotland. We are beginning the process for the procurement of a Helicopter Underwater Training Equipment. We are also in discussion to add OPITO Certification to our
training. The third area we are looking at this year is to invite a Quality Assurance company like DNVGL and Veritas to audit the Academy towards the end of the year,” the Rector stated.
training. The third area we are looking at this year is to invite a Quality Assurance company like DNVGL and Veritas to audit the Academy towards the end of the year,” the Rector stated.
The Academy, Effedua said, owes its’ merit of emerging the 2019 Best Maritime Training Institution at NIMASA Merit Awards to the hearty support of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and his team at the Ministry of Transportation.
The Chairman, Governing Board of the Academy, Chief Demola Seriki, has also given immense support within this period, the Rector said.
In the team-spirit of building and sustaining the global standard of the Academy, Effedua recognises and appreciates the foundation laid by the Interim Ministerial Committee (IMC) on
restructuring the Academy, led by Chief Adebayo Sarumi and the support of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) with his team, particularly the operations department.
restructuring the Academy, led by Chief Adebayo Sarumi and the support of Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) with his team, particularly the operations department.
Worthy of note and recognition are contributions of the staff of the Academy, the Association of Master Mariners and other maritime stakeholders in revamping the Academy, Effedua added.
