Okonna Highlights Landmark Partnerships, International Certifications, Industry Placements as Cadets Embark on Global Seafaring Careers
Under clear skies and the proud gaze of industry leaders, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, on 29 October 2026 formally graduated its Class of 2026. National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates, alongside an array of national and international prizes, were conferred on a new generation of seafarers ready to join Nigeria’s expanding marine and blue economy workforce.
Acting Rector Dr. Kevin Okonna set a tone of measured pride and clear ambition. He welcomed a distinguished roll-call of guests that underscored the Academy’s growing national and continental stature. Among those present were representatives of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the newly established Nigeria Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Police Force, and key private-sector partners including NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd.
Dr. Okonna used the occasion to chronicle a series of concrete achievements recorded since the previous graduation in November 2025. Central among them is the successful placement of more than 50 cadets on internationally trading vessels for their mandatory one-year sea service. Forty-three of these cadets are currently serving aboard the modern, sophisticated fleet of NLNG ships—an outcome of sustained collaboration with NSML, the Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Starzs Investments Ltd, Sea Transport Nigeria Ltd, Arion Nigeria Ltd, and the Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO).
Feedback from the ships has been uniformly positive, he confirmed. Cadets have been rated “very good” to “excellent” both in professional competence and in character—an endorsement the Rector presented as validation of the Academy’s rigorous training philosophy.
Cementing its international credentials, the Academy this year secured two key certifications from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON): ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems and ISO 21001:2025 for Educational Organisations Management Systems (EOMS). These awards, Dr. Okonna noted, confirm that the institution’s processes meet global benchmarks for quality and educational excellence.
Perhaps the most forward-looking announcement of the day was the Academy’s selection, with the support of NIMASA, as the focal institution for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and World Maritime University (WMU) Future Ready Shipping (FRS) in Africa Project. The competitive Expression of Interest positions MAN Oron at the centre of an integrated pilot programme for green and digital shipping across sub-Saharan Africa—an assignment that places the Academy squarely on the continental map of maritime innovation.
In parallel, the Academy continues to ensure that every cadet is professionally registered with at least one leading international body: The Nautical Institute (UK), the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST, UK), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), or the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA). The Nautical Institute Prize for the Best Graduating Cadet in Nautical Science will be presented during the ceremony, underscoring the depth of these partnerships.
Dr. Okonna also confirmed that arrangements have been concluded with NSML for the sponsorship of another cohort of cadets for sea-time experience on NLNG vessels in the current year—further evidence of a partnership that is already delivering measurable results.
Institutional Modernisation and Staff Welfare
On the internal front, the Academy has fully implemented the newly approved Conditions of Service and Organisational Structure directed by its Governing Council. The reforms bring attendant staff welfare benefits and signal a commitment to a more professional and motivated workforce.
In a move aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Academy’s own Performance Bond for Ministerial Deliverables 2026, MAN Oron launched its Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS). The transition from manual, paper-based administrative workflows to a digital, transparent and secure environment marks a significant step in the institution’s modernisation journey.
Turning to the cadets themselves, Dr. Okonna paid tribute to the disciplined formation they have undergone. From early-morning drills and regimental parades to demanding practical exercises, the Class of 2026 has been forged in an environment designed to produce not only technical competence but physical and mental toughness and core moral values.
His charge to the new graduates was both simple and profound
“Do not ever misrepresent this Academy. Keep our flag flying high and chart an honourable course for your lives. Remember that a true mariner and maritime professional is defined not just by their technical competence, but by their absolute integrity and character. Go out there, command the oceans, and make us proud.”
He closed with the traditional seafarers’ blessing: “Fair winds and following seas.”
Acknowledgements and Outlook
Dr. Okonna reserved special gratitude for the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, and all special guests whose presence and continued support have made the day’s celebrations possible.
As the Class of 2026 steps into a dynamic and demanding global industry, the message from Oron is clear: Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution is not only producing competent officers but is actively shaping the future of green, digital and professional shipping across Africa.
Key Highlights from the 2026 Graduation
*Over 50 cadets placed on international vessels for mandatory sea service since November 2025, including 43 on NLNG ships.
*ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 21001:2025 (Educational Organisations Management) certifications secured from SON.
*Selected as focal institution for IMO–WMU Future Ready Shipping (FRS) in Africa Project with NIMASA support.
*Universal professional registration of cadets with The Nautical Institute, IMarEST, CILT or CIOTA.
*Implementation of new Conditions of Service and Organisational Structure with improved staff welfare.
*Launch of Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to digitise administrative workflows.
*Continued NSML sponsorship of additional cadets for sea-time experience on NLNG vessels in 2026.
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