Maritime Academy Trains 4,700 Seafarers,Dockworkers Receives Oyetola’s Commendation

(From R)The Representative of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum, Director, Research and Strategic Development, Dr. John Adeyanju and the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Dr. Kevin Okonna, shortly after signing the 2025 Departmental Performance Bond during the Management Retreat and Ministerial Handholding for the Performance Management System and Enterprise Content Management System in the Academy recently

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The Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron has received high commendation from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy , Adeboyega Oyetola, for its proactive commitment to the implementation of Ministerial Deliverables through the signing of a Departmental Performance Bond and the institutionalisation of key reforms, training of over 4,700 seafarers and dockworkers, increased staff access to digital tools, expanded capacity building initiatives, and the phased implementation of PMS across departments.

This was disclosed in a press release by the Head of Department, Public Affairs, Domo Umoekpe on 1st September, 2025.

Representing the Minister, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics in the Ministry, Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum, commended the Academy’s leadership for embracing the reforms. Oyetola , described the retreat as part of its broader efforts to ensure accountability, improve institutional efficiency, and promote digitalisation across all its agencies.

He said that the 2 day retreat themed “Building Capacity for the Implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria,” focused on the full adoption of the Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), two major reforms introduced by the Ministry to enhance accountability, efficiency, and digital transformation across its agencies in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

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The key highlight of the event was the official signing of the 2025 Departmental Performance Bond by Directors and Heads of Departments with the Acting Rector, Dr. Kevin Okonna, solidifying the Academy’s commitment to performance based governance and institutional transparency.

According to the minister , the PMS is designed to align with institutional objectives with departmental and individual targets through measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), while the ECMS aims to eliminate manual processes by digitizing records and streamlining internal workflows. These reforms are expected to significantly improve service delivery, institutional memory, and interdepartmental coordination.

The Maritime Academy, recognized as Nigeria’s premier maritime education and training institution, was singled out for leading by example in the adoption of these reforms. The Ministry emphasized that such dedication is essential for the country’s aspiration to become a regional hub for maritime excellence.

Dr. Okonna also cited the positive impact of the recently introduced National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which has strengthened industry partnerships and improved cadet access to onboard training. Furthermore, the Academy is currently working with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other regional bodies to enhance its course offerings and improve international collaboration.

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He disclosed that dditional efforts by the Academy include registering cadets with relevant professional bodies such as the Institute of Nautical Studies, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria, to ensure professional development and industry integration.

The Acting Rector pledged full deployment of the ECMS within the Academy and expressed confidence that the retreat had further equipped his team to meet and exceed the Academy’s 2025 performance targets.