B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G: Tinubu Appoints Dr. Okonna Acting Rector of MAN

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Kevin Okonna as the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

According to a release signed by the Head of the Public Relations Department of MAN, Domo Umoekpe, the appointment follows the recent exit of the former Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), who left behind a track record of outstanding development.

The Academy disclosed that the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola CON, in the letter of appointment urged Dr. Okonna to bring his extensive wealth of experience to bear on his new role in providing quality leadership for a seamless transition in the upgrade of the Academy into a degree awarding status.

The statemenet reads: “The Federal Government has appointed Dr. Kevin Okonna as the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria. This appointment comes in the wake of the exit of the former Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), following a remarkable tenure of development at the Academy.

“In a letter from the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola CON, the Federal Government urged Dr. Okonna to bring his extensive wealth of experience in the maritime sector to bear on his new role, including providing the required leadership for a seamless transition in the status of the Academy, as directed by the Federal Government.”

Okonna’s appointment again demonstrates the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy determination to constantly look inward in the selection of technocrats to fill leadership positions in the industry with the sole aim of driving growth and encouraging loyalty and productivity.

It will be recalled that Oyetola had few months ago, recommended and secured the appointment of an insider, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the CEO of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Dr. Okonna is a distinguished maritime scholar with about three decades of dedicated service to the Academy. He holds impressive educational and professional credentials from recognised national and international institutions, and he is an alumnus of the World Maritime University (WMU) Malmo, Sweden.

Having risen through the ranks, he has served the Academy in various capacities including, pioneer Head of Maritime Safety Department, pioneer Director of the defunct MAN Consultancy Services, pioneer Director of Strategy, Research and Development Directorate and pioneer Coordinator of the expanded Specialized Seafarers Training Centre.

As a distinguished member of the Nautical Institute (NI), UK, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Dr. Okonna has contributed immensely to the development of the Academy. These include contributions in the development, accreditation and delivery of several specialized seafarers courses, research initiatives, and fostering industry partnerships.

The World Maritime University alumnus has also played pivotal roles in representing the Academy in several Federal Government Committees, including the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) audit of Nigeria in 2016 and the Federal Government’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) to restructure and reposition the Academy for better service delivery in September 2017.

The new Acting Rector while thanking God, Mr. President and the Federal Government for his appointment promised to put in his best to deliver on the responsibilities assigned to him.

According to the statement, Okonna who was speaking during the Academy’s recent management meeting said, “I am grateful to God for this opportunity and I am thankful to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola CON, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, the former Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), the members of the Academy’s Governing Council as well as all other stakeholders in the maritime industry, for their support and confidence reposed in me.

“The Academy has been at the forefront of quality training of maritime professionals and we are deeply committed to the strategic vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the able leadership of His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, to transform Nigeria into a global maritime powerhouse and to secure its position at the forefront of global blue economic growth in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Continuing, he said: “Accordingly, I am determined to work tirelessly for the greater and sustainable development of the Academy while at the same time providing the required leadership during this period of transition in the status of the Academy, as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria is a specialized maritime training institution with a mandate to train the various levels of personnel required for running and operating ships of the merchant navy and the technical workforce for ports, marine engineering, workshops, piloting and navigation, marine insurance, hydrography and other related services.

The Academy was also established to provide courses of instruction and training in marine technology, applied research in maritime technology, and other relevant fields of applied maritime science.

As the pioneer maritime training institution in Nigeria, the MAN plays a leading role in maritime education and training, and its graduates play pivotal roles in all sectors of the Marine and Blue Economy.