…As Rector Vows Attract Foreign Earnings
The Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Mr. Mkpandiok Ante Mkpandiok has stated his administration’s resolve to vigorously pursue the process that would reposition the Academy for global competitiveness and stand the institution out as a foreign exchange earner for Nigeria within the shortest possible time.
Mr. Mkpandiok, who is also the Registrar of the nation’s premier Maritime institution, disclosed this during the recent visit of members of the House Committee on Maritime Safety Education and Administration of the National Assembly who were on tour of projects in the Academy as part of their oversight functions.
The Acting Rector expressed his appreciation to the nine-man Committee with Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago as the Chairman, for their love and concerns for the Academy, stating his unwavering resolve to reposition the institution for global competitiveness in the shortest possible time.
The Rector informed the House Committee about the dearth of up-to-date educational facilities like; GMDSS Engine, RADAR ARPA Simulators and Training Vessels for cadets practical training, amongst others. He appealed to the federal government to help the Academy, asserting that “given the massive land with the structures and some remarkable facilities, if properly staffed, motivated and adequately funded, the Academy would be in a position to curb Nigerians travelling outside for similar training while training foreigners to generate foreign earnings”.
Earlier the House Committee Chairman had requested for a well articulated proposal capturing the challenges bedeviling the development of the Academy, staff and cadets welfare with management’s suggestive way forward to enable the House Committee formulate policy that would fast track the transformation of the institution.
The members of the Committee unanimously expressed satisfaction over what they described as tremendous improvement recorded within the short period of Mr. Mkpandiok as the Acting Rector and deeply commended him for a job well done.
While on the visit to the Academy, the law makers inspected the Executive Hostel Block for Short Courses Students, the Presidential Jetty, Directorate of Consultancy Services and the Nautical Science Block. Other facilities inspected were, the Survival Swimming Pool, Mini Stadium /Sports Arena and the Rector’s Residence.
The House Committee Chairman, Hon Mohammed Umaru Bago, made the commendation during the Committee’s tour of project in the in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria as part of of their oversight functions, noting with satisfaction, the tremendous improvement that has taken place since their last visit and commended the Acting Rector for a job well done.
In his words, “I am impressed with what is on ground at the moment, contractors have moved back to sites. We want to say thank you for a job well done and I count on you to work hard to satisfy the IMF inspection which is very much at the corner”.
The Committee Chairman urged the MAN management to embark on human capital development by training staff of the academy to be intellectually sound enough to impart knowledge that accords with up to date technology, so as to facilitate the institution’s focus of delivering the mandate of providing the Merchant Navy, Maritime and its allied sectors with qualitative education and training that satisfies end user’s expectations.
Hon. Bago bared his mind on their determination to pursue to a conclusive end, the salary package that would attract and retain the relevant professional manpower to further afford the institution the much needed strength to live up to its mandate
The lawmaker also noted that the visit covers budgetary allocation to the Academy and responsibility to monitor how funds are being disbursed for the purpose it was meant, including the level of work executed. While advising against embarking on new projects until the old ones have been completed and put to use, he particularly called for the completion of the Survival Swimming Pool which he said would help cut down expenses on cadets training and also generate revenue for the academy. Another area Hon Bago noted calling for speedy attention for recreation of cadets and as a source of income for the institution, was the Sports Stadium.
By Sunny Edemenang
