November 14, (THEWILL) — A total of 221 cadets graduated from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, on Thursday, with more than 80 receiving immediate job offers and sea-time training slots during the 2025 Passing Out Parade.
The ceremony, held at the Academy’s campus in Akwa Ibom State, saw industry stakeholders compete to snap up the institution’s best-performing cadets. The Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) led the recruitment drive, announcing 55 sea-time training opportunities—50 from the association and five from Petromarine Nigeria Ltd.
In one of the ceremony’s most applauded moments, the Chief Executive Officer of Starzs Shipyard, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, offered instant employment to four outstanding graduates, each accompanied by a cash reward of N1 million. Similarly, Chairman of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Ltd, Aminu Umar, provided eight jobs and N250,000 cash awards to high-ranking cadets.
Represented by his company’s Head of Corporate Services, Musa Ado Ibn-Saidu, Umar reaffirmed Sea Transport Services’ commitment to supporting maritime manpower development in the country.
Other corporate supporters of the graduating class included Arion Energy Services Ltd, Bricks Ltd, and the Alumni Association of Maritime Academy Oron (AMANO), which also presented awards and incentives.
Acting Rector of the Academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, commended the maritime community for its consistent partnership, reiterating that his administration remained focused on quality training, professional competence, and enhanced staff welfare.
Okonna announced that the Academy had, for the first time, secured full approval for its Staff Conditions of Service from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation—a milestone he said would help attract and retain the best maritime professionals.
Reviewing the Academy’s achievements within the past year, he highlighted improvements in governance, consistent training operations, and restoration of public power supply to the Academy and Oron community after more than eight years. He added that cadet hostels had been fully rehabilitated with solar power for 24-hour electricity.
Okonna noted that the Academy had completed Stage One of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) quality audit and was preparing for Stage Two to secure ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2025 certifications. He also confirmed that all cadets were now registered with at least one international professional association, including the Nautical Institute (UK), IMarEST (UK) and CILT Nigeria.
The Rector disclosed that the Nautical Institute had introduced a special prize for the Best Graduating Cadet in HND Nautical Science, which includes a certificate and a monetary award in British Pounds.
He added that the Academy had strengthened its collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria for enhanced training in Maritime Transport Studies and was working to expand partnerships to secure more onboard training opportunities required under the STCW Convention.
Okonna said the Academy was in advanced discussions with NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Ltd (NSML) to provide shipboard training for MAN cadets, while also firming up a partnership with the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Ghana, to broaden maritime education and certification pathways.
He confirmed that the IMO had recently deployed independent evaluators to the Academy to assess Nigeria’s compliance with international training, certification and watchkeeping standards.
Describing the graduating class as disciplined, technically competent, and globally competitive, Okonna recommended the cadets to employers for recruitment and mentorship, noting that they were fully prepared to contribute to the country’s Marine and Blue Economy sector.
