The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, on Tuesday hosted a reciprocal visit and inspection of its training facilities by officials of the Liberia Maritime Authority(LMA) and the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, led by Hon. S. Tornorlah Varpilah, Board Chairman of LMA.
Chairman of the Academy’s Governing Council, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, described the engagement as more than a routine inspection. He said it reaffirmed historic bonds between Nigeria and Liberia — two countries with deep historical connections, a shared maritime heritage and a common interest in a safe, secure and prosperous maritime sector in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Liberia has a significant presence in global shipping, particularly through its internationally recognised ship registry, while Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest and most diversified maritime economies,” Akinola said. “These complementary strengths provide a strong foundation for cooperation, particularly in maritime education, professional training and the development of competent seafarers.”
The visit follows a Nigerian delegation’s trip to Liberia earlier this year. Akinola thanked the Liberian side for the hospitality shown then and welcomed the Liberian team, together with NIMASA partners, on behalf of the Governing Council, management, staff and cadets.
He said the Academy, established in 1977, remains a specialised institution for the education and training of seafarers and other maritime professionals. The Council’s position, he added, is that MAN must preserve that mandate while improving its capacity to meet the industry’s evolving needs.
“Our objective is clear: to produce competent, disciplined and professionally certified maritime personnel who can compete effectively in the national, regional and international maritime labour market,” he said. The Academy remains committed to International Maritime Organization standards and the STCW Convention.
Akinola noted sustained investment in training infrastructure, equipment and institutional development, stressing that the priority is not buildings alone but cadets’ theoretical knowledge, practical competence and professional discipline.
He expressed hope that the visit would lead to concrete, lasting collaboration that benefits both institutions and the professionals they train. He called for continued bridge-building through maritime education, professional development and institutional cooperation.
“May this visit mark the beginning of an even stronger and enduring partnership between the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, the Liberia Maritime Authority, the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, and NIMASA,” he said.
The February 2026 Nigerian visit to Liberia had already opened talks on lecturer exchanges, curriculum peer review, resource sharing, training of Liberian youths at MAN, placement of MAN cadets on Liberian-flagged vessels for sea-time, and related capacity-building with the Abuja MoU on Port State Control.
Acting Rector of MAN,Dr. Kevin Okonna said the initiative for a visit was suggested and approved in December 2025 by the Governing Council before it was undertaken in February 2026.
He said the visit is geard to build partnership, share resources, exchange blue economy expertise, promote recognition of seafarers certification, train Liberian seafarers in Nigeria and have Nigerian cadets train or work onboard Liberian flagged vessels.
The Acting Rector explained to the guests that MAN Oron sits on a totally built 100 hectares of land after it was established in 1977 as pioneer Maritime Education and Training Institution with a strong Alumni body that has produced the SG of Abuja MoU and President of Alumni Association who is presently a shipowner
According to Okonna,all programmes of the academy are approved in line with IMO Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) including short courses totaling 48 that are running on campus.
The Acting Rector added that yearly, participation for short courses average 5000 participants stating further that boat and ship building training programme that was suspended is about being stated again following an approval by the Governing Council
Hon Tornorlah, the Head of the Liberian Delegation Describes Nigeria as a big brother to Liberia considering the country’s size and Nigeria’s almost 50 years history of maritime education and training.
He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to thr partnership and lauded the historical affinity of both countries while recalling Nigeria’s helpful participation in restoring peace to Liberia after it’s civil war.
Tornorlah said the enormous maritime opportunities available in both countries cooperation should be utilised for their mutual economic growth and utilisation of maximum utilisation of their maritime manpower
” I can assure on behalf of the President of Liberia and the board that we are committed to this partnership. Aside recognition of certificates, we shall explore ways to maximize the blue ocean economy while jointly working to solve any challenge facing the maritime sectors of both countries” Tornorlah said.
Also speaking at the event, Captain Sunday Umoren,Secretary General of Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU) describes the planned collaboration by both countries as a great development that should not be short lived.
Umoren said their cooperation could lead to West Africa becoming a maritime powerhouse on the African continent with many benefits for the economies of the two Anglo phone countries
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