Preserving the Specialised Structure of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.

Open letter to President Bola Tinubu

Preserving the Specialised Structure of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.

Your Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR),

On behalf of the Alumnt of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO), | express our deep appreciation to your administration for its unwavering commitment to maritime development, demonstrated by the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the recent signing of Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy Policy.

We also commend the leadership of His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, for steering these landmark achievements in under two years,

As proud graduates of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (MAN Oron), and dedicated stakeholders in the mantime sector, we write with utmost respect and concern for the future of Nigeria’s mantime training architecture.

The Martime Academy of Nigeria, MAN Oron is a strategically vital institution, purpose-built to deliver specialised training in accordance with global maritime standards.

For decades, it has equipped Nigeria’s seafarers, marine engineers, and navigators with the competencies required to serve our nation and compete internationally.

We respectfully express concem over the proposed conversion of the Academy into a conventional university under the Ministry af Fducation This move, while perhaps well-intentioned, poses significant risks:

1, Loss of International Accreditation: Maritime training institutions must conform to the International Maritime Qrganisation (IMO) regulations, particularly the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STOW) Convention. A shift from ils specialised framework could lead to a loss of certification and recognition.

2. Dilution of Quality: Maritime education demands specialised facilities, simulators, and expertise. Generalisation may undermine the quality of training and safety outcomes.

3. Reduced Global Competitiveness: The Academy equips graduates to compete in the global maritime labour market. Weakening its focus would disadvantage Nigerian cadets on the international stage.

4, National Security Risks: Maritime security and port operations require precision-trained personnel. Specialised institutions like MAN Oron are critical to
sustaining these competencies.

Our Prayers

In alignment with Your Excellency’s vision for a thriving marine and blue economy, we respectfully urge:

1, Retention under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy: This ensures training remains aligned with sectoral needs, policy direction, and maritime strategy.

2. Reinforcement of the Academy’s Specialised Structure: MAN Oron should continue to operate within the STCW framework, supervised by the Nigerian Mantime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and focused on producing world-class seafarers and maritime professionals.

3. Flexible Degree-Awarding Structure: Degree programmes should reflect the specific manpower needs of the mantime sector, with appropriate academic partnerships and frameworks, as practised in the Nigerian Defence Academy model.

Conclusion

We note that Nigeria already hosts a Maritime University in Okerenkoko. While commendable, it has experienced challenges linked to operating outsde the direct oversight of the sector-specific ministry. Additionally, several conventional universities already run maritime -related degree programmes under the Ministry of Education

Mr. President, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, is not just an academic institution—it is a strategic national asset. To weaken its foundation is to compromise Nigeria’s future in the global maritime domain.

Preserving its specialised mandate is essential for safequarding our national interests, advancing the blue economy, and secunng sustainable jobs for our youth.

We trust in your leadership and are confident that your administration will uphold Nigeria’ s vision for a strong, competitive, and secure mantime future.

Respectfully,

Emmanuel Maiguwa

President,
Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria ( Oron), AMANO