By Sunny Edemenang- Uyo
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria MAN, Oron has hosted a retreat on Performance Management System, PMS and Enterprise Content Management System, ECMS, signaling a new era of excellence in the maritime sector.
The two-day retreat organized by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, takes after the vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and aims at strengthening performance, accountability, and digital transformation across all its agencies.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in his remarks noted that “the Retreat is aimed at driving a successful implementation of the Performance Management System (PMS) and Enterprise Content Management System ECMS in the Academy to strengthen performance, promote accountability and digital transformation across all its agencies in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu”.
He expressed delight at the key reforms in the Academy, noting
that “the reforms will translate into improved training outcomes, global competitiveness, and enhanced service delivery to Cadets, Seafarers, and Stakeholders in the maritime industry in compliance with global maritime standards
Speaking through his representative, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum, who is the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the minister particularly called on the Academy, being Nigeria’s foremost maritime education and training institution, to lead by example in embracing these reforms.
The minister urged the Acting Rector to constitute Performance Management System (PMS) Champions who will help the Management drive the effective implementation of this new system.
“These champions should be visible with dedicated t-shirts and caps, and a special day set aside for PMS awareness, just as we have done in the Ministry, where every Thursday our champions wear the PMS uniform and go round creating awareness.”
“The Ministry will continue to provide the Academy with oversight, technical support, and periodic reviews to ensure the success of the reforms and urged participants to embrace the change and see them as enablers, not burdens”, the minister assured.
Dr. Kevin Okonna, the Acting Rector in his presentation, praised Minister Adegboyega Oyetola for his outstanding leadership in the ministry as reflected in the Ministry’s high scores rated by the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) recognized within the presidential priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Acting Rector used the retreat to underscore the achievements of the Academy in 2024 under his watch and contributions to the Ministry’s Deliverables encompassing; the training of 4,775 seafarers and dockworkers, the provision of laptops and desktops to enhance staff productivity, an intensified capacity building initiative aimed at nurturing expertise and elevating standards, and the implementation of the Performance Management System of the Federal Government to foster accountability, among other initiatives.
The Acting Rector acknowledged the pivotal role the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy has played in facilitating favorable responses from shipping companies and associations regarding onboard training opportunities for the Cadets.
The Rector assured on the Academy’s standard curriculum on safety courses and active collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and is poised to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for the West and Central Africa Region.
“The Academy has developed a course aimed at enhancing deliverables in the sub-region, and the management has undertaken essential measures to facilitate registration of cadets with their various professional bodies, Nautical Science Cadets with the Institute of Nautical Studies, Engineering Cadets with the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technologists (IMarEST), and Maritime Transport Cadets with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria” , the Rector explained.
The two-day event climaxed with the ceremonial signing of the 2025 Departmental Performance Bond by the Directors and Heads of Departments alongside the Acting Rector of the Academy, witnessed by the representative of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum.
