MOWCA Set to Make MAN Oron, Other Maritime Institutions Develop Joint Certification Programme
By Ovie Edomi
History was made today at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom state when the nation’s premier Maritime academy played host to the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, MOWCA, in additon to two regional maritime institutions.
The four days conference, was an initiative of the Secretary General of MOWCA, His Exellenxy Dr.PaulAdalikwu as a way to drive collaboration with all the Maritime academies within West and Central Africa to establish a framework for partnership and collaboration within its member
states.
According to the Ag Rector of MAN, Dr Kevin Okonna, who had the singular honour to be the first Maritime academy’s Chief Executive Officer/ Rector to host the MOWCA strategic initiative, the plans of MOWCA aligns with the strategic development plan of the President Tinubu’s regime for Nigerians through the Marine and Blue Economy to develop foreign partnerships and collaborations.
Dr Okonna noted that the Academy has before now undertaken much collaborative efforts, like in November, 2025 when the Academy invited the Regional Maritime Academy, Ghana for the 2025 graduation ceremony of the cadets of Maritime Academy of Nigeria. He disclosed that the visit led to a MOU between both institutions. Also in February, 2026, Dr Okonna noted that the Maritime academy of Nigeria, Oron led by the Governing Council Chairman visited Liberia to finalise an earlier MOU collaboration earlier entered into this year. This along with Education and Training, harmonization of MET curricular in line with the MOU with Regional Maritime University, (RMU), Ghana at the 2025 Cadets Graduation ceremony are part of an enlarged platforms for building synergy, which has made the return-visit to Nigeria by both institutions for increased impact in the sub-region, much easier. Further more, Dr Okonna said the proposed MOU will lead to the advancement of the quality and Watch keeping for Seafarers,1978(as amended), provide for
Nigerian Maritime Administrationand Safety Agency (NIMASA) to host
the Secretary General of MOWCA, H E Dr.PaulAdalikwu, and the
the Vice Chancellor and Management staff of the Regional Maritime University for building capacity of Maritime Education and Training as well as Certification and partnership between both institutions, and
the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification in the
sub-region.
Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) , Dr Paul Adalikwu in his remark restated the organisation’s resolve to bridge all the maritime human capital gaps through collaboration and synergies among training institutions in West and Central Africa.
“Let me begin by expressing my sincere appreciation to the leadership of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron for hosting us in this beautiful city of Oron, Akwa Ibom State; and the Académie Régionale des Sciences et Techniques de la Mer, Abidjan; and the Regional Maritime University, Ghana, for their commitment to this shared vision.
“Your presence here today demonstrates a collective resolve to move beyond institutional silos toward a more integrated and strategic approach to maritime capacity development in West and Central Africa.”
According to Dr Adalikwu ” The maritime sector remains the backbone of our regional economies. Over 90% of our trade is carried by sea, yet our capacity to fully harness the benefits of this vast domain depends largely on the quality of human capital we develop. It is in this regard that your institutions play a pivotal role”. He however, listed somechallenges which include:
* Digital transformation and emerging maritime technologies
* Decarbonization and environmental compliance
* Maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea
* Increasing global standards for training and certification
Accordingly, Dr Adalikwu emphasised that no single institution, no matter how well established, can effectively address these challenges in isolation. A reason, he said the four days workshop is both timely and strategic.
It is expected the four days programme will provide a unique platform to: harmonise curricula and training standards, promote faculty and students exchanges, share infrastructure, research outputs, and best practices, develop joint certification programmes aligned with international standards and strengthen regional identity in maritime education and training.
All of these Dr Adalikwu, the MOWCA Secretary General averred would build not just cooperation—but a cohesive regional maritime knowledge ecosystem, develop a skilled maritime workforce, promote safe, secure, and efficient shipping, strengthen regional integration, provide the needed capacity for the promotion of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Intra-African trade, enhance research into African contribution in finding solutions to the discuorse on alternative fuel energy source.
The SG adds that the initiative will support the establishment of sustainable maritime institutions, including initiatives such as the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank.
Indeed, for the Maritime academies recognised by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, the initiative of MOWCA strategic plan under the leadership of Dr Adalikwu will no doubt create a new narrative for the West and Central Africa Maritime domain.