May 27, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has said the dual ISO certification awarded to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria will strengthen Nigeria’s maritime training capacity and improve the country’s competitiveness in the global maritime industry.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this on Tuesday, during the presentation of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and ISO 21001:2025 Educational Organisations Management System certificates to the academy by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom State.
Represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Ogwuche John, the minister said the certifications reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional standards, human capital development and operational efficiency in the marine and blue economy sector.
He said the academy had aligned its operations and training systems with internationally recognised standards in quality assurance, educational management, safety and environmental sustainability.
According to Oyetola, the maritime sector remains critical to Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, making global compliance and continuous improvement necessary for long-term growth and international relevance.
“The significance of this certification cannot be overstated. It positions the Academy as a centre of excellence equipped to produce highly skilled and globally competitive maritime professionals”, he said.
The minister added that the Federal Government would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving standards and strengthening maritime institutions across the country.
He also urged the academy’s management to sustain the certification through ongoing compliance, regular internal reviews, and improved service delivery.
Chairman of the academy’s Governing Council, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, described the certification as evidence that the institution’s administrative and training systems were being aligned with global best practices.
Director-General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, said the academy had demonstrated commitment to operational efficiency, educational excellence and continual improvement.
He noted that the institution had invested in modern maritime training infrastructure, including bridge simulators, engine room simulators, smart classrooms and marine engineering workshops.
Acting Rector of the academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, said the certification process was initiated to meet international requirements under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers convention.
Okonna explained that the academy established a Quality Assurance Department and partnered with SON to train staff in quality management systems and certification processes before pursuing full institutional certification.
The Maritime Academy of Nigeria was established in 1977 to train manpower for Nigeria’s shipping, maritime transport and marine engineering sectors.
