Minister Applauds Rector MAN for Implementing IMO Guidelines
BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
The Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye has commended the Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Cdre Duja Effedua (Rtd) and his management for sticking with and adhering to the rules and guidelines the International maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions and protocols as the institution churns out cadets and seafarers to fill local and international market openings.
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Prince Adegoroye who was speaking on Thursday during the 2022 Graduation Ceremony of the Academy cadets in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, said stickling with the IMO rules and guidelines offers the cadets the guarantee for quality training and competence required to be able to participate in the labour market; local and international.
This is even as the Rector MAN urged the graduating cadets to regard their graduation as the second most important step in their desire to being seafarers, and admonished them to continue to upgrade themselves, and to serve diligently and with humility, if they expect to go far and grow big in seafaring.
According to the HMOSFT, “It is pertinent to note that great benefits await you all as graduate Cadets in the maritime sector in Nigeria and the world at large. This great feat is being achieved through adherence to regulations and guidelines emanating from IMO Conventions and Protocols, which ushered in advance technology in the marine industry.
“On behalf of my humble self, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the Nigerian Maritime Stakeholders, I wish to congratulate the 2022 graduating Cadets, the Rector and entire Staff of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria for this momentous occasion in the life of these Cadets and the Maritime Industry. The Federal Ministry of Transportation joins the Academy in this celebration.
“I also wish to express my appreciation to the lecturers that have imparted so much on these Cadets, including those that worked behind the scenes to make these Cadets what they are today, their labour of love will never be forgotten.”
The Minister of State also disclosed that Nigeria is seeking the IMO technical support to upgrade MAN into a degree-awarding institution; in addition to securing the STCW Convention for cadets in need of , sea time onboard foreign-going ships.
The Minister of State noted that the IMO has not shied away from supporting Nigeria whenever the need arose. “It is heartwarming to note that Nigeria has enjoyed IMO Technical Assistance in the area of capacity training. It is equally worthy of note, that there is the need to seek greater technical cooperation between the IMO and Nigeria to enhance our capacity to meet the significantly increasing demands for maritime education and training in Nigeria; these needs includes but not limited to the following:
“Support from the IMO in further training of the Academy`s instructors/lecturers and other
personnel; Support from the IMO to the Academy in Securing the STCW Convention-required for sea time onboard foreign-going ships for her teaming cadets;
“Technical Assistance from the IMO in converting the Academy from Diploma to Degree-awarding institution; Using the Academy as a sales-point for IMO books and publications in high demand by trainees; and Greater involvement of the Academy with the IMO`s seminars/conferences/workshops and other activities.”
While congratulating the cadets, he assured that the Federal Government would continue to invest in MAN to achieve greater accomplishments.
“Once again, I congratulate all the Cadets and sincerely thank you all for coming and reassure you of the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Transportation to work with MAN in ensuring a better Academy.”
On his part, Cdre Effedua assured the cadets that there is reward for hard work, humility and discipline, and urged them to carry out whatever industry tasks they are assigned wherever they find themselves.
“While l was onboard at the beginning of my career, l carry out any task given to me, if you must go far in this business, you must be willing to serve and to be respectful and humble. At a time l was treated as a rating, we paint, scrub and clean the ship.
“But l grew to become a captain of a ship, many senior officers in the navy passed through the basics like you, continue to learn and upgrade yourselves as get ready for higher tasks. Now you’re are stepping out into the next most important stage, to be successful in this career, hard work and discipline is also required, you cannot run away from one.”
Others at the graduation ceremony include the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, represented; President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Tajudeen Alao; Chairman, Starzs Investments Company Limited, Engineer Greg Ogbeifun, represented; President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Mfon Usoro, represented; Secretary General, Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU), Captain Sunday Umoren amongst other maritime stakeholders.