‘We’ll Remain Focused In Our Partnership With Host Community’ Okonna

‘We’ll Remain Focused In O

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

Okonna with the LGA Chairman and his delegation, and some mgnt staff of MAN

Acing Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna, has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fostering a productive and mutually beneficial partnership with its host community, in line with the Academy’s Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.

Okonna who assumed leadership of MAN recently hinted that management is presently considering partnering the host community in the area of inland waterways traveling safety awareness creation; in the light of massive waterways movement by people of the community and adjoining communities.

The Rector who disclosed above recently when the Executive Chairman of Oron Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Asukwo Okon Enweme paid him a stopover visit in his office, explained that the Academy will continue to function and relate within the confine of the law, noting that in the past couple of years, the Academy has built a robust relationship with sister institutions and will continue to nurture these partnerships.

A release signed by the Head of the Public Relations Department of MAN, Domo Umoekpe stated that the Rector used the surprise visit to speak on management’s focus in relation to its CSR programme.

The release reads: “The Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Dr. Kevin Okonna, has reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to fostering a lasting partnership with its host community through the launch of impactful Corporate Social Responsibility programmes such as inland waterways safety awareness campaign.

The institution image maker said the surprise visit served as a platform for the new helmsman at the nation’s foremost maritime education and training centre to outline his plans concerning the host community to the Chairman and his entourage.

The release quoted Okonna as saying, “We are very conscious of our corporate social responsibility towards our host community and we will not fail in making sure that our presence is felt. There are things to be done to create that impact, and the Academy’s Management is committed to bringing that impact to bear.

“We are actively pursuing strategic partnerships with leading international organisations and relevant national institutions to sponsor safety awareness campaigns and our focus is on equipping operators and users of inland waterways with vital knowledge and skills for safe boat operations in the host community.

“The initiative which is in tandem with the commitment of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, towards curbing boat mishaps in Nigeria, would go beyond saving lives at sea, to underscore the Academy’s value in enhancing national development,” he added.

The Acting Rector also drew the attention of the Local Government Council Chairman to the massive development in the Academy courtesy of the efforts of past administrations, especially that of the immediate past Rector, Commodore Duja Emmanuel Effedua (Rtd), maintaining that the Academy being an international institution has a duty to adhere to international best practices to continue being relevant in the global maritime scene, hence his administration would remain firm and resolute on attaining and maintaining international standards.

He reiterated the need for stability in the institution to sustain the momentum of development and therefore urged the Local Government Boss to partner with the Academy for the achievement of that objective.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Oron Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Asukwo Okon Enweme had thanked the Acting Rector for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage and assured him of his continuous support towards the development of the Academy.

Congratulating the Acting Rector on his appointment, the Chairman expressed his satisfaction with the massive transformation that has come the way of the Academy of recent, even as he reminisced on the host community’s cordial relationship with past Rectors, which according to him has provided a conducive working atmosphere, promoting peaceful co-existence between the Academy and its host community.

“Years ago, when the Academy needed more land to actualise its university status dream, I facilitated that process. I have always and would continue to ensure the host community contributes its quota towards the development of the Academy. The Academy would outlive all of us, so it behooves us to ensure we make positive impacts whilst we are still alive,” he noted.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have continued to congratulate Dr. Kevin Okonna over his appointment, applauding President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola for settling for a tested and reliable technocrat that is not only a part of the Academy’s success story in the past seven years; but as one who will continue on the path of taking the institution to a greater height by building on the legacies he inherited.

According to Captain Tajudeen Alao, President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Okonna’s appointment has demonstrated the government’s commitment to sustain MAN’s repositioning to meet with international obligations and standards.

“Dr Okonna’s confirmation as Ag Rector is a very welcome news. Remember he rose through the ranks at the Academy. He was a member of the Ministerial Management Committee to reposition the Academy.

“He is in a better position to understand the lapses at the Academy and also to prepare the Academy for IMO Mandatory Audit Scheme”, Alao said.

On his part, Captain Sunday Umoren, the Secretary General of Abuja MoU, Okonna’s appointment is critical to sustaining the foundational pillars in the repositioned Academy.

“The appointment is a very good dev elopement, I have been a friend of the Academy, I worked very closely with the former Rector. If you have been following developments at the Academy, of course you know Dr. Okonna is an insider.

“He has also shown himself over the years to be a capable hand. And so his appointment to me has given room for continuity. Major problem we have in our society is lack of continuity. So where we have this kind of thing, we can only see the Academy growing from strength to strength rather than somebody coming in and learning the ropes. This is a very peculiar sector of our economy thus you need to have a round peg in a round hole. The minister needs competent, knowledgeable and focused insiders to support his vision to make our blue economy move at a prescribed speed.

“He works so easily with people, people are comfortable around him. It is for him to now harness those contacts, those relationship to move the academy to the next level. Locally and internationally, he’s been highly exposed, has been attending IMO programmes, so he’s fully armed.

I love the way he’s already engaging people to ask for support, to ask for their contributions, suggestions on how to move the place forward. With appointees like Okanna, it is not strange for the ministry to say ‘hey, new Rector, every six months, give us progress report, let’s see your plan for the short, medium and long term plans; and then be giving us an update on those programs. That is how things will work, we cannot applaud our honourable marine and blue economy minister, enough for this singular appointment”, Umoren stated.