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- Advise FG On Proposed Plans To Convert Academy Into Varsity
President of the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron (AMANO), Emmanuel Maiguwa, has urged the Federal Government to tread cautiously over the proposal to convert the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron into a conventional university. He argued that the institution would be better off as a degree-awarding institution as against conventional university, which is capable of relegating the core aims of the establishment of the Academy.
Maiguwa, who stated this, while addressing newsmen in Lagos, said AMANO backs calls for the upgrade of the Academy into a degree-awarding institution, adding that it is important for the Academy to retain its status as Nigeria’s specialised training institution to train maritime professionals for sea-going and onshore careers, who serve the nation’s maritime, shipbuilding, port operations, offshore oil & gas and related industries.
“AMANO does not consider it necessary to convert the Academy into a conventional university. We think that it should retain its name as Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, but upgraded to a degree-awarding institution, similar to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the United States; Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt; Philippines Merchant Marine Academy in the Philippines and Maine Maritime Academy in the United States.
“Most of these institutions are degree-awarding but did not change their names to university due to their core and peculiar mandates. As a degree-awarding maritime Academy, restructured and strengthened, equipped with state-of-the-art training facilities, and adequately funded, the Academy can further expand its curriculum to cover courses covering the maritime and offshore oil and gas industries.
In addition, it can offer parallel degree and professional license courses for different streams of students based on their individual career choices. This is the practice in many parts of the world,” he stated.
He explained that Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron was first established as a Nautical College of Nigeria in 1979, specifically to train shipboard officers and ratings, adding that with the arrival of new equipment and a Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), and other development, the Academy is ready to award degrees.
Maiguwa also stated that the Academy under the current Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua, had witnessed tremendous changes, which should be applauded.
He said that currently, the Academy is getting the attention of stakeholders including the National Assembly to reposition it to meet the demands of the dynamic maritime industry.
“The Job Commodore Effedua is doing in the Academy currently deserves commendation. Also, stakeholders paid keen attention to the advancement of the institution, especially Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who sponsored the bill under review.
“AMANO has also graciously submitted a memorandum to both House of Representatives in the 8th Assembly and The Senate in the current 9th Assembly with its views on Maritime education being a specialised training endeavour that provides specific expertise and proficiency for the professional licensing and competency required to manage the industry effectively,” he disclosed.
It should be noted that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron is presently the foremost specialised institution in Nigeria that provides a full range of professional education and training following the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) requirements for the training and certification of seafarers in Nigeria.