2024 Oversubscribed Admission: MAN Oron May Run Double Streams

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Sequel to the steady and increasing expression of interests by young Nigerians to train as cadets and seafarers at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) located in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, management of the Academy is considering the possibility of running day and night classes to be able to absorb excesses arising from its 2024 oversubscribed admission ceiling.

Effedua (middle) with invited dignitaries, including the representative of the minister of marine and b;lue economy, retired naval chiefs and gallazy of industry and allied professionals.

MAN Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd) who disclosed above during the 2023 graduation ceremony of 157 cadets last Thursday, explained that there has been a steady rise in the number of prospective students over the past two years.

Effedua who stressed that the Academy was at par and in some cases even superior to some maritime training institutions around the world in terms of the state-of-the-art facilities, technologies and learning atmosphere said whoever is still nursing reservations about the Academy is either living in the past or simply playing the gallery.

“We have four foreigners who want to come here and teach by January 2024. We have been producing brilliant cadets and many of them are ready to join in driving the blue economy. Some mischief makers are looking for operational gaps to cash on, but talking about basic training, MAN holds its place amongst the first best.

“Every course that is done abroad for pre-sea training is also done at the Academy and the facilities we have are first class. We also offer simulator based courses which aren’t done in any other country in West Africa.

“MAN Oron is presently on the White List of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Abuja MoU recognizes us, we have so many MAN Oron cadets all around the world and IMO donates books frequently because they recognize us”, he said, adding:

“We are already oversubscribed for next year, right now, we are thinking we want to do 2 streams, morning and night”, he disclosed as he ended his remark.

In a chat with our reporter after the ceremony, Effedua while describing the development as a positive one which underscores the profile and rising recognition of the Academy locally and internationally, nonetheless said certain factors and criteria will first be looked into before a final decisionon the new schedule is reached.

Award winning cadets and students in a group picture with the Rector and some VIPs at the ceremony

“Remember that the Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy is upbeat about optimizing the blue economy, if you understand the performance bond he initiated during the stakeholders meeting in Lagos, it was to achieve that and more. So very agency is required to focus and to maximize, so the admission   issue you referred to here is receiving serious management consideration.

“we will escalate it to the ministry where it becomes necessary, but right now, we are still discussing and brainstorming, we want to cross the ‘t’s and dot the ‘i’s, those necessary criteria before taking a final decision.”

Cross section of the graduating cadets

Aligning with the Academy’s new outlook and increased portfolio, the President, National Association of Master Mariners, Capt. Tajudeen Alao urged the Rector to fine tune the Academy’s curriculum to meet current realities; noting that the Academy has prepared the Cadets for a great career and enormous opportunities in emerging nation’s blue economy and global seafaring market.

“The Industry is further challenging you to quickly fine tune the Academy Curriculum because the world is transforming from green economy to blue economy, the challenges ahead are enormous.”

A goal getter, the MAN Rector propoded up the self confidence of the cadets with the assemblage of core marine and naviogational professionals, including serverving and retired very senior naval officers to speak to them on the thrills and frills of seafaring, including initial sea real time fears and occupational diligence necessary to attain set targets.