Okonna Charges Graduating Cadets to Uphold Academy’s Core Values as Stakeholders Give 70 Cadets immediate Employment
By Ovie Edomi
Yesterday was a day of pride and pageantry at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, especially for 70 students out of the 221 graduating cadets who partook in the institution’s 2025 Passing Out Parade which began on Monday, 10th November, 2025 and ended Thursday 13th November. The four days colourful event marked the culmination of years of rigorous academic and regimental training for the graduating cadets.
Addressing the cadets, the Acting Rector and 2025 Parade Review Officer, Dr. Kevin Okonna, charged them to be worthy ambassadors of the Academy and the maritime industry as a whole. He urged them to uphold the values of discipline, integrity, and excellence instilled in them throughout their training.
Dr. Okonna who also commended the graduating cadets for their dedication, resilience, and commitment to excellence, noted that their perseverance had prepared them for the challenges and opportunities of the maritime world.
The Acting Rector appreciated members of Management, staff and the Nigerian Navy for their unwavering efforts in instilling and maintaining high training standards and discipline in the Cadets. He reaffirmed the Academy’s commitment to continuously producing competent seafarers capable of contributing meaningfully to both national and global maritime development.
Highlighting the uniqueness of the 2025 graduating set, Dr. Okonna described them as “the most fortunate cadets”, having had the rare privilege of meeting and interacting with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), H.E. Arsenio Dominguez, during his recent visit to Nigeria, adding that their Passing Out Parade was further honoured by the presence of IMO Consultants, which according to him is “a testament to the Academy’s growing international recognition”.
True to the prediction of the Acting rector, by the time the academy’s rector began to reel out the names of the best graduating cadets, stakeholders began to scramble for them to offer them both sea time experience and immediate employment. For instance, Engr Greg Ogbeifun’s Starzs investment limited, gave employment opportunities to 5 cadets and further training opportunities in addition to ₦1m cash award each on resumption for work. Sea Transport Services Limited also gave cash award to eight best graduating cadets and immediate employment to five cadets. Aron Energy Services Limited gave ₦1m each to 3 cadets and offered two employment.
Also the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, promised to absorb 50 of the cadets for sea time experience. Also, Senator Wasiu-Sanni Eshinlokun, Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport gave a cash award to seven cadets.Similarly,the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria gave the best HND graduating Cadet, Bethel Chibuike Azubuike and the best ND graduating cadet, Lawrence Chisom Anita cash awards.
The ceremony which took place at the Rotimi Ameachi’s auditorium attracted the families and friends of the graduating cadets top maritime personalities including representive of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, representive of the
Chief of Navy Staff and representive of the Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Hon commissioner of Education, Prof Obong Essien Umo. Others are Prof Jethro Broke, Vice Chancellor, Regional Maritime University, Ghana, Capt Sunday Umoren, Chief Adebayo Sarumi, former Managing Director of NPA, Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, Engr Isreal Obadan, Capt Alao Tajudeen, Kingsley Igwe, Engr. Kehinde Akinola, Chairman Governing Council, , Directors, Research and Strategic Development, Dr. John Adeyanju; Registrar, Mr. P. M. Netson; the Bursar, Mr. Anthony Ambi; Director of Works and Services, Engr Wale Ogunsola and so on.
Representatives of House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety and Education, Hon Bareje Yusuf promised to ensure that the House of Representatives moves the Academy forward especially in terms of budgetary provisions.
Equally, Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, noted that the basic reason for the establishment of the academy is to train manpower for the maritime industry. He said the Senate under the leadership of the Senator Godswill Akpabio will do everything to make the academy to remain a leading institution in West and Central Africa. He equally said the National Assembly is proud of the Acting rector for his contributions. In the word of Engr Isreal Obada ” the cadets to be professional and they will like the result in the end. Certainly, this may be why the Vice Chancellor of Regional maritime university of Ghana offered to grant admission to the two best graduating cadets to further their education/training.
For cadets of the Academy, this year’s graduation remains one of the best. This may be why the Academy’s Image maker, Domo Umoekpe, said the Acting Rector, Dr. Okonna has lived to expectation and given the cadets a reason to be full of joy