The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), has taken another giant step towards standardised training, by inaugurating its newly-built ultra-modern facilities at the school complex in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who inspected and unveiled the facilities for use, said the management of the Academy has been able to resuscitate the institution, which had before now suffered gross negligence, mismanagement and poor application of resources in the hands of previous administrators.
The new facilities include: a Multi-purpose Auditorium, a Library, a Simulation Centre, a Sports Complex, standard Swimming Pools, an ICT Centre, and a host of others.
Amaechi applauded the Rector of the Academy, Emmanuel Effedua, for projects execution as recommended by an audit committee, but charged him to also focus on the development of an internationally-competitive and holistic curriculum, to boost the academy’s credibility.
He urged current lecturers to improve on their quality by returning to school for their doctorates (PHDs), and called on the management to support them in this feat even while attracting world class lecturers – foreigners and locals, for a train-the-trainer pact and full time training of students.
He regretted the underdevelopment that had plagued the institution, stressing the need for the current management to enforce disciplinary measures to sustain its good works.
He tasked the management to also ensure 24-hour power supply, sea time for cadets, and to provide visionary leadership.
Responding, Effedua described the new ultra-modern facilities as one step in the right direction, as recommended by the Interim Management Committee.
He disclosed that the school management had adopted the report/recommendations of the forensic audit by the Committee, and and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) amongst others as a working document, which have begun yielding benefits.
According to Effedua, within the last 18months, about 80 per cent of previously abandoned projects have been taken up even as the Academy has reduced the number of enrolment from over 10,000 to 3,000; with 30 students being the benchmark for each class.
He revealed that most of the court cases that his administration inherited had been won, while the host community has become friendlier, following engagement with the school, thus giving room for the institution to thrive.
Effedua also revealed that improving the school’s curriculum is among the next phase of activities for the Academy.
