‘Resist Temptations, Peg Mistakes At Foundation Stage’ Experts Charge MAN Graduating Cadets

BY FUNMI ALUKO

Maritime experts and professionals including some Alma-mata of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron have charged graduating cadets of the Academy to espouse professionalism and good behavious in all their conduct as they enter into into the maritime industry, within and beyond the shores of this country as they ply their trade.

The experts who consist of masters’ mariners, maritime security, trainers, marine engineers and surveyors in their goodwill messages during the graduation ceremony of 157 cadets of the Academy at Oron yesterday, Thursday charged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the Academy and the nation as a whole.

Leading the goodwill messages, President of National Association of Master Mariners, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, noted that whereas seafaring is fraught with challenges, he particularly tasked the cadets never to indulge in sea pollution in the cause of their seafaring career.

The cadets he said have no excuse to disappoint and urged the cadets to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves.

He said: “The challenges ahead are enormous. There would be tough times always. There would be frustration tendencies. There would be temptation to give up, but always remember that the Academy has moulded your character to stand up to these challenges.

“The Academy has prepared you for the vagaries of the seas rough weather and ‘japa’ tendencies…abandon ship abroad to marry locals, and temptations on the job, social vices of drug peddling, arms smuggling, human trafficking and cargo theft. More importantly, the Academy has prepared you for a great career and enormous opportunities in the blue economy.

“Remember that you are Ambassadors of the Maritime Academy and Nigeria, wherever your ships sail to worldwide, please do not cause pollution of the ocean in the course of discharging your duties onboard.

“Always keep these golden points to your chest that success comes with hard work not luck, not shortcut. Patience is a price to pay for a successful career, otherwise you lose out.”

Collaborating, the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU on Port State Control for West and Central African region, Captain Sunday Umoren warned the cadets constantly look back on what the Academy has offered them and to demonstrate them in positive light.

He said, “Today is your day, we will not take the shine from you. But please, do not take light, the applauds of people who have come to celebrate you. We also want to let you know that the future of Nigeria maritime industry rests on your shoulders and you have to make us proud.

“The sky is wide for many stars to shine, don’t let your efforts be in vain as well as those of your parents and the rector.”

Speaking further, Umoren charged the cadets to remain courageous in the face of seafaring challenges, warning that sea can be occasionally rough and holds quite some amount of fearful moments which the personal courage alone can overcome.

“Rough seas they say make the best sailors, I pray for you that you face rough seas, but may it never consume you.”

Also admonishing the cadets, Prof. Alex Okwashi, representing the shipping sector in Lagos said, “We are looking at you as ambassador of the blue economy, know that there are job opportunities waiting for you here and outside here, and we know that with the competent pool of lecturers here who have helped to shape you, we expect that you must be the best you can be.”

On his own, one of the nation’s budding maritime security expert, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, who double as the President, Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron (AMANO)  charged the cadets to be forward looking and to avoid being fastidious or dramatic at work place.

“I believe that you have gotten the best you could in terms of training here, compared to any part of the world, because our Academy can rub shoulders with other first class academies, anywhere.

“From tomorrow after receiving your certificates, you are on your own. You are still young, so at this stage, don’t be afraid to make mistakes wherever you find yourselves. If you are afraid to make mistakes, you can’t go far, but learn fast from your mistakes and become stronger. It is only at this entry, foundation level you can afford to make mistake not when you are fully in charge, there is no room for mistake when you become a master mariner.”

For Engr. Israel Obadan, President of the Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), he urged graduates in marine engineering to start aligning early with professional bodies and get themselves registered as members of the association as a way to getting mentorship early in their career development.

In all 157 cadets graduated from various faculty and discipline cutting across Nautical Studies, Marine Engineering and Maritime Transport and Business Management, Electrical/Electronic Engineering.