House of Representatives Committee Commends MAN Oron Acting Rector Over Judicious Use of Funds
By Ovie Edomi
One thing was obvious when the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration visited the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron,Akwa Ibom State recently to access the way and manner the Academy Acting Rector ultilised the 2025 appropriation: they commended the Acting Rector after he made his presentation and took the Committee members round the Academy. Beginning with Hon Udualk Udodoh, Deputy Chairman of the Committee to Hon Rodney Ambiaowei, Hon Olufemi Ogunbanwo, Hon Mark Esset and others, they commended the acting rector for the way and manner he carried out the execution of different projects. The acting rector equally got commended for carrying the academy’s management staff along since assumption of office as acting rector.
According to Hon Udualk Udodoh, “the acting rector, Dr Kevin Okonna not only gave a comprehensive report to the visiting team, he has taken us round the projects appropriated for in the 2025 budget. The 2025 budget performance will enable the National Assembly know what to do concerning the 2026 budget defense”. Furthermore, the deputy chairman of the Committee expressed delight at the Judicious use of funds by the acting rector. He equally noted that the academy’s international partnership as well as the way and manner 80 cadets of the academy got immediate job placements during the last year’s graduation and passing out parade was highly impressive. He also commended the acting rector, Kevin Okonna for the good relationship with the host Community.
Meanwhile, Hon Rodney Ambiaowei, a Marine Engineer who in his school days as an under graduate used to go to the Academy for different practical trainings noted that the academy has transformed beyond what it was years ago. He commended the academy’s acting rector and noted that the national assembly will continue to support the academy because the institution needs more funding.
Hon Mark Esset, a son of the soil and member of the Committee who described the acting rector as Mr Projects, commended the acting rector Dr Kevin Okonna for the team work, professional membership offered to all cadets of the academy as well as the foreign partnership. According to him, the last year was very motivating to cadets of the academy especially with the immediate employment offered to 80 cadets of the over 200 graduating cadets in addition to the academy’s SON certification which he described as unique and a plus to the operations of the academy
Addressing the cadets after the inspection of projects,Hon Udualk Udodoh, Deputy Chairman of the Committee noted that the acting rector has judiciously used the money appropriated for the academy. He equally commended the Hon Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola CON, for his ingenuity at driving the nation’s marine and blue economy affairs,
as well as the The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola for the release of the statutory funding to the academy.
An obviously elated Okonna reiterated that the National Assembly’s support via budgetary approvals has helped in getting the academy to where it presently is. He told the Visitors that under his leadership, the goal is to drive the mission of the academy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope Agenda for the Maritime industry by providing the Merchant Navy with man power/personnel who have quality training that meets end users needs as well as to reposition MAN, Oron to be internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in maritime education and training in the sub- region.
Insiders say this management’s goal under Okonna, was what has shaped the strategic direction the Academy took throughout last year. A development that has further accentuates the Academy’s rising global recognition and academic excellence especially the West and Central Africa level, where the Maritime Academy of Nigeria shone like a northern star.
The benefits of the Okonna’s efforts was further reinforced by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), His Excellency Arsenio Dominguez, who during his visit to Nigeria last year expressed deep satisfaction with the quality of training infrastructure at the academy and commended the Acting Rector for steering the Academy toward full alignment with global maritime standards. Indeed, with 43 of the academy cadets already on NSML vessel for practical experience, and 80 cadets taken out of the Nigeria’s seafarers labour market, the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has every reason to be happy with the Okonna led management of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria for his fresh ideas, administrative prowess, good relationship with international Maritime institutions and foreign partnership geared towards repositioning MAN, Oron in the subject region.