The Maritime Academy of Nigeria has formally commissioned three Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects executed under its 2025 appropriation, reinforcing its commitment to community development and stakeholder collaboration.
The announcement was made during the Academy’s 1st Quarter 2026 Citizens/Stakeholders’ Engagement held at its main auditorium in Oron.The engagement, themed “Leveraging Community Partnership for Effective Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy,” highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Academy, host communities, and government in advancing maritime education and the blue economy.
Speaking on behalf of the Acting Rector, Dr. Kevin Okonna, who was unavoidably absent due to an official assignment at the National Assembly, Dr John Adeyanju, the Academy’s Director, Research and Strategic Development emphasised that the commissioned projects reflect the Academy’s dedication to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of its host communities.
He highlighted that the institution formally commissioned three major projects delivered under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative in the 2025 budget.
The projects include the construction of seven lock-up shops and 19 open kiosks in Eyo-Abasi community, the construction of a 600-litre solar-powered borehole in Udung Okwung located beside the Academy on the waterfront, and the installation of a 10 KVA solar power facility at the Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Oron.
Adeyanju disclosed that a substantial portion of its 2025 budget was invested in the rehabilitation of the Eket-to-Oron community and the Academy power supply line. However, it noted that electricity challenges reported by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company have hindered the realization of the full benefits expected from the power rehabilitation project due to nationally influenced electricity supply constraints.
The quarterly engagement, designed to strengthen transparency and collaboration between government institutions and stakeholders, has continued to yield measurable outcomes, particularly in cadet training and employment opportunities.
The Research and Strategic Development Director recalled that previous engagements facilitated stronger partnerships between the Academy and maritime industry stakeholders, leading to employment and seatime opportunities for cadets. During the 2025 graduation ceremony, 80 out of 221 graduating cadets secured either employment or seatime placements.
Further strengthening training capacity, he disclosed that the Academy signed a Memorandum of Agreement with NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited for onboard training opportunities spanning three years. As part of the agreement, 43 cadets have already been deployed onboard NLNG vessels for their mandatory one-year seatime training between December 2025 and February 2026.
The Academy acknowledged the support of Akwa Ibom State, the Oron Local Government Council, and the Eyo-Abasi host community in maintaining stable operations at the Academy.
The institution reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining community-focused initiatives and strengthening partnerships aimed at improving infrastructure, supporting host communities, and advancing Nigeria’s marine and and blue Economy for partnership for onboard training of Nigerian Merchant Navy Cadets. The result of that engagement was swift and remarkable as 80 of the 221 graduating cadets were given either automatic employment or seatime training opportunities during the 2025 Cadets graduation ceremony in November, 2025.
“I am also happy to report that since that graduation ceremony, the Academy has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) for onboard training opportunities for cadets from the Academy for a three-year duration. A total of 43 Cadets from the Academy have been placed onboard NLNG ships for their STCW Mandatory One-year Seatime experience between December 2025 and February 2026.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the 1st Quarter 2026 engagement is really to celebrate the outcomes of a very productive host State and host Community engagement by the Academy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. I am happy to state that the support of the host State, Akwa Ibom State, Oron Local Government and the Eyo-Abasi host community has played a key role in the stability in the operations of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.
“In return, the Academy has contributed its quota to the socio-economic development of the State and host community. These include outsourced contract for keeping the Academy secured and the environment maintained in the internationally acknowledged eco-friendly and clean state of the campus.
“Today, we are proud to be ready to formally commission the three projects executed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the Academy’s 2025 appropriation. These include; Construction of 7 lock-up shops and 19 open kiosks in Eyo-Abasi, construction of 600 litres solar-powered Borehole Project in Udung Okwung, right beside the Academy on the waterfront end, and installation of a 10 KVA solar power facilities in the Palace of the Paramount Ruler of Oron.
“The Academy also spent a substantial part of its budget in 2025 for the rehabilitation of the Eket to the Oron Community and the Academy Power Supply line. Unfortunately, PHED-reported nationally influenced electricity challenges have hindered the derivation of the full benefit of this investment, against expectation” he said
Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the academy’s Governing Council, Engr. Kehinde Akinola, commended the community leadership for their cooperation with the academy.
Akinola promised to support the management in building robust relationships with the host community and other stakeholders
Akinola, who performed the formal commissioning of the projects, described it one of the many ways President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is touching the lives of Nigerians through agencies of the federal government
Senator Nelson Effiong, Traditional Ruler Elect of Eyo Usotai in Oron Local Government Area of the state thanked the academy governing council and management for the CSR initiative.
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