Sunny Edemenang – Uyo
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, has graduated 222 cadets in Higher National Diploma HND, and National Diploma ND, on Thursday, November 13, 2025 in a ceremony to mark its 2025 Passing Out Parade.
Out of the graduating cadets, 67 graduated with Higher National Diploma HND, with 32 distinctions and 155 with National Diploma ND, with 25 distinctions.
The colourful event which took place in Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi Auditorium, marked the culmination of years of rigorous academic and regimental training for the graduating cadets of the 2025 class. The best performing cadets were showered with cash prizes, awards and many others won scholarship, automatic employment and Sea time offers onboard the vessel by fronline ship owning partners, including Starzs Investment Ltd, Sea Transport Services Nigeria Ltd, Arion Energy Services Ltd and Ship Owners Association of Nigeria and Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron AMANO, all gave awards in cash and kind to the best cadets.
Also the Nautical Institute Prize for the Best Graduating cadet in HND Nautical Science, including award of certificate and money in British Pounds for Nautical Science, went to Nwachukwu Goodness Umeh.
Chibuike Bethel Azubuike and Chisom Anita Lawrence emerged the overall best male and female graduating cadets respectively.
In his remarks, the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna, celebrated the achievements of the cadets and the steady progress of the institution over the past year in raising
training standards to meet international requirements and support Nigeria’s growing marine and blue economy.
He stated his success in the mandate from the Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, to stabilise the Academy and provide leadership during a period of transition in status of the institution and set it firmly on a path to sustained
quality maritime education and training.
Dr Okonna announced the approval by the National Assembly, of appropriation with provisions for payment for cadets onboard training.
“I am happy to inform you that the Academy is working very hard to strengthen our partnership and we are very close to having a
contract with the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) for the provision of onboard ship training for cadets of the Academy as well as many other services that will lead to greater international opportunities for the cadets in the Academy” , the Rector added.
A brief chats with award recipients described the 2025 as unique like no other graduation ceremonies in terms of cash prizes, scholarship and employment opportunities for fresh seafarers.
The overall best male graduating cadet HND, Chibuike Bethel Azubuike appreciated the collaborative synergy the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna has created and wished should be sustained to reverse the ugly trend of unemployment of cadets after training.
From Prosper Devine Eberechi, HND Marine, “it takes a genius to cause things to happen and the Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna is one”. “The graduation ceremony is the best I have ever seen throughout my years of studies. Many of us have won awards, and employment opportunities have been given many of us”, he concluded.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, however seized the opportunity to brief the press on agitation by Oro Union, a sociocultural organisation of Oro ethnic nationality, for the change of status of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron to University Maritime Studies, Oron UMSO.
According to the Chairman, “the establishment of the university of Maritime Studies, Oron under the Federal Ministry of Education will cause Maritime Academy of Nigeria to lose its specialized character and genuine link to the human capacity development needs of the maritime sector in Nigeria”.
While acknowledging agitation for a university as absolutely within the fundamental rights, of the people, he went on to explain that “under the Renewed Hope administration and National Assembly, a Governing Council to oversee the affairs of the Academy was inaugurated in October 2024 and the UMSO Act restablishing the Academy and empowering it to, in addition to other professional Certificates award degrees as obtains in Nigeria Police Academy, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and others has passed through first reading at the National Assembly.
Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola however reiterated the commitment of the Governing Council to performing its duties and roles as envisioned by Mr President.
