By Sunny Edemenang – Uyo
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron has effected about 378 promotions in a single exercise to motivate and boost the efficiency of staff in fulfillment of the Federal Government’s resolve to transform the Academy into a full-time Maritime University.
A breakdown of the number of staff promoted shows a total of 157 junior staff and 221 senior management staff drawn from both academic and administration arms of the institution.
Among those promoted as Directors were , Siddi Ekpaha Mkpandiok in the Corporate Affairs, Emmanuel Jonah Essien – Personnel, Sunday Okwong Udoh and Okon Bassey Okon in Finance and Accounts.
In the category of Chief Lecturers were, Maurice Nduka Ijeoma, Engr. Innocent Chijioke Ezeala and Dr. John Aderemi Adeyanju while those promoted to Assistant Chief Lecturers included, Mrs Atim Ikara, Ekwere William Ekwere, Olaoluwa Omotosho, Mrs Angela Udofe. Effiong Emmanuel Okon was advanced to Assistant Chief Librarian.
In the same vein, Peter Makadas Nelson and Ishola Rafiu were promoted Deputy Registrars along with Theresa Thankgod Anya and Engr. Babawale Odunayo Ogunsola respectively as Deputy Directors.
It would be recalled that at no time in the forty years existence of the school has there been such a number of staff promoted in a single exercise. The gesture is even more impacting when weighed against the backdrop of staff who have worked for many years without being promoted, while others were just enjoying their first ever promotion and therefore felt motivated to put in their best in the service of the Academy as important ingredient in the government’s transformation drive.
Speaking with our correspondent, the members of staff who craved anonymity, described the promotion exercise that was directly supervised by the Ministry of Transport, as transparent and a reward for efficiency to motivate the workers. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, the Permanent Secretary, Directors and all the staff of the ministry who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful exercise.
Also, kudos were given to the Acting Rector, Mr Mkpandiok Mkpandiok whose concern for staff motivation has led to the training and retraining of staff and expediting the promotion exercise during his tenure vis a vis massive infrastructural development in the Academy.
Meanwhile,the host community of MAN Oron has passed a vote of confidence on the Acting Rector, Mr Mkpandiok Mkpandiok and his management following the empowerment of forty-eight (48) women on skills acquisition as part of its corporate social responsibility to create a cordial relationship with the landlord community.
The women drawn from Ukpata/Afaha Eduok community that hosts the Academy, benefitted from the one day skills acquisition training programme sponsored by the management of the MAN, covering preparation of meat-pie, small chops, chin chin, egg rolls, buns and pancakes. Other skills were in soda, toilet and liquid soap making.
The programm which held at the Government Primary School, Ukpata/Afaha Eduok in Oron received the people’s commendation of the Mkpandiok led administration to give the people of the Community a new lease of life after the crisis they experienced in the recent past.
Speaking on behalf of the youth, the youth leader of the community, Ulap Victor Bassey, acknowledged the efforts of the present management of MAN in touching the lives members of the host community.
The youth leader used the opportunity to announce the vote of confidence passed on the Acting Rector by youth of the Community for his demonstrated devotion to the well-being of the host community, superlative wealth of experience in piloting the affairs of the Academy and ensuring academic excellence.
In his reasoning, “it was proper to encourage the Acting Rector in his vision to actualize the dream of the founding fathers of the Academy because Mr. Mkpandiok has all it takes to interpret the restructuring and repositioning agenda of the Federal Government”.
Ulap Bassey went on to sue for cooperation from socio-political groups and associations to identify with the new management towards achieving the vision and aspirations of the federal government.
In the same vein, the Village Head of the Community and former councilor, Chief Effiong Okon, commended the management of the Academy for the gesture which he said will go a long way to reduce poverty level among his subjects and curb youth restiveness associated with idleness. Chief Okon assured to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship that will engender peace and conducive learning environment for the cadets and the students.
The royal Academy however Academy to the Acting Rector to backup the training with kickoff support to ensure that the programme achieves a logical conclusion to uplift the people.
Responding, on behalf of the women, the women leader, Mrs Ekaette Bassey thanked the management of the Academy for remembering women, saying that the skills acquired is the best thing that has happened to them from the Academy. She expressed optimism that participants will use the acquire skills to earn a livelihood and called on the local government council and well spirited individuals to complement efforts of the Academy to empower the beneficiaries to practice the skills on a large scale.
Earlier in the remarks to declare the training programme open, the Acting Rector speaking through the Director Corporate Affairs, Mr Siddy Mkpandiok pointed out management’s decision to identify with women based on appreciation of their role in development of the society. He expressed delight at the impressive turn out and urged the participants to take the training seriously.
