80 Of 212 Maritime Academy Graduates Get Vessel Placements – Rector

The acting rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Dr Kevin Okonna, has disclosed that 80 out of the 212 cadets who graduated from the academy in November 2025 have already secured employment onboard vessels.

Okonna made the disclosure during an oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, led by its chairman, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

According to him, the development represents a significant step in addressing the academy’s long-standing challenges of post-graduation unemployment and limited sea-time opportunities for cadets.

A major pillar of the academy’s employment drive, he said, is a three-year Memorandum of Agreement with NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NLMSL), which has already provided sea-time placements for 43 cadets aboard NLNG vessels.

Of the total, 13 cadets were onboarded in December 2024, while another 30 secured placements in late February 2026.

Okonna also noted that the Nigerian Shipowners Association created additional onboarding opportunities during the academy’s graduation ceremony, with maritime industry stakeholders competing to recruit cadets.

Commenting on the development, a member of the House Committee, Hon. Paul Ekpo, representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, commended the academy’s progress.

“It was during the graduation when I saw how stakeholders scrambled for cadets that it dawned on me that the Maritime Academy under Okonna has indeed made significant improvements,” Ekpo said.

“The graduation ceremony was very rewarding, not just taking a child here and at the end of the day they struggle to get a place to work.”

The rector further disclosed that on March 11, 2026, the academy received quality management system certification from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, confirming compliance with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2025 standards.

He described the certification as a historic milestone, noting that the academy had never obtained a quality management certification since its establishment in 1977.

Okonna also revealed that the academy is currently negotiating a partnership with the Liberia Maritime Authority to attract foreign students while expanding sea-time opportunities for Nigerian cadets.

“Liberia has one of the largest fleets of vessels in the world, yet does not have an institution comparable to what we have here,” he said.

“We proposed that Liberia send their youths to study at MAN Oron, while our cadets gain sea-time training opportunities aboard Liberian vessels.”

He added that a delegation from the academy’s governing council recently visited Monrovia for talks, and officials from the Liberian Maritime Training Institution have expressed interest in visiting the Oron campus.

Highlighting other achievements in 2025, Okonna said the academy developed its first-ever staff conditions of service, which has been approved by the head of Service of the Federation. A five-year strategic development plan has also been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

In addition, the academy ensured that all graduating cadets were registered with relevant international professional bodies. Nautical science cadets were registered with the The Nautical Institute, marine engineering cadets with E-Marit, and maritime transport studies cadets with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).

The academy also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control after developing a specialised training programme for Port State Control Officers in the sub-region.

According to Okonna, the number of graduating students rose from 180 in 2024 to 221 in 2025, while participation in specialised training courses increased from 4,595 to 4,959 within the same period.

Currently, the Oron campus hosts 654 regular cadets enrolled in programmes including nautical science, marine engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, and maritime transport and business management.

Responding, the Committee chairman, Hon. Abba-Ibrahim, who was represented by the deputy chairman, Hon. Uduak Odudoh, said the progress recorded by the academy has renewed hope for cadets.

“Over the years, the major question has always been: where would cadets go after graduation?” Odudoh said. “Today, the rector has informed us that about 80 graduates are already onboard vessels. That gives hope.”

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, expressed concern over the inadequate budgetary allocations for cadet training and the even smaller amounts eventually released.

“If we want this school to move forward, we must improve funding for the institution in order to attract foreign students,” he said.

Ambaiowei also urged the academy’s management to engage members of the National Assembly to channel constituency capital projects to the institution to support its infrastructure and training needs.