The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, has successfully trained 4,775 seafarers and dockworkers in 2024 through various simulator-based courses designed to enhance maritime safety and operational efficiency.
These programs are part of the academy’s ongoing efforts to align with the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy and include collaborations with shipping companies and associations to provide onboard training opportunities for cadets.
The academy’s offerings include Ship Manoeuvring Simulator & Bridge Teamwork (SMSBT), Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), General Operators Certificate (GOC) courses, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), Radar Navigation, Radar Plotting and Use of ARPA (RADAR/ARPA), and Liquid Cargo & Ballast Handling Simulator (LCBHS) courses. Additional programs include Engine Room Watchkeeping Preparatory Course (ERWPC), Bridge Watch-Keeping Preparatory Course (BWPC), Engine Room Simulator, High Voltage Course (HV), Auxiliary Engine Familiarisation Course (AEFC), and Boiler Familiarisation Course (BFC).
Dr. Kevin Okonna, the Acting Rector of the academy, highlighted the importance of staff capacity-building initiatives to promote expertise and improve standards. He noted that the academy has provided laptops and desktops to staff to enhance productivity and implemented a Performance Management System (PMS) to encourage accountability. Furthermore, the academy is collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for the West and Central Africa Region to enhance safety course standards.
In line with international standards, the academy is taking steps to register its cadets with relevant professional bodies, including the Institute of Nautical Studies for Nautical Science cadets, the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technologists (IMarEST) for engineering cadets, and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria, for maritime transport cadets.
