The federal government has appointed Dr. Kevin Okonna as the acting rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom state.
The appointment followed the exit of the former Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), after a remarkable tenure of excellent service delivery and development at the Academy.
A statement by the head of Public Relations of the Academy, Domo Umoekpe, disclosed that a letter from the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the federal government urged Dr.
Okonna brought his extensive wealth of experience in the maritime sector to bear on his new role, including providing the required leadership for a seamless transition in the status of the Academy, as directed by the federal government.
“Dr. Okonna is a distinguished maritime scholar with about three decades of dedicated service to the Academy.
He holds impressive educational and professional credentials from recognised national and international institutions, and he is an alumnus of the World Maritime University (WMU) Malmo, Sweden,” Umoekpe said.
The statement further disclosed that after years of service and experience, Dr. Okonna has risen through the ranks, having served the Academy and indeed Nigeria in various capacities including, pioneer Head of Maritime Safety Department, pioneer Director of the defunct MAN Consultancy Services, pioneer Director of Strategy, Research and Development Directorate and pioneer Coordinator of the expanded Specialized Seafarers Training Centre.
The acting rector is a distinguished member of the Nautical Institute (NI), UK, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Dr. Okonna has contributed immensely to the development of the Academy. These include contributions in the development, accreditation and delivery of several specialized seafarers courses, research initiatives, and fostering industry partnerships.
As an alumnus of the World Maritime University, Dr Kevin Okonna has played pivotal roles in representing the Academy in several Federal Government Committees, including the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) audit of Nigeria in 2016 and the federal government’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) to restructure and reposition the Academy for better service delivery in September 2017.
Speaking during a recent Management meeting, the acting rector expressed his gratitude to God and the federal government for the appointment and promised to put in his best to deliver on the responsibilities assigned to him.
In Dr. Okonna’s words “I am grateful to God for this opportunity and I am thankful to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, the chairman of the Governing Council, Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, the former Rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), the members of the Academy’s Governing Council as well as all other stakeholders in the maritime industry, for their support and the confidence reposed in me.”
Expressing his determination to uphold and improve academic standards at MAN “The Academy has been at the forefront of quality training of maritime professionals and we are deeply committed to the strategic vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the able leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola, to transform Nigeria into a global maritime powerhouse and to secure its position at the forefront of global blue economic growth in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda”
“Accordingly, I am determined to work tirelessly for the greater and sustainable development of the Academy while at the same time providing the required leadership during this period of transition in the status of the Academy, as directed by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Dr. Okonna said.
