The Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, has raised serious concerns over proposals to convert the institution into a university, cautioning that such a move could undermine Nigeria’s maritime development objectives and erode decades of international recognition earned by the Academy.
At a press briefing, Engr. Kehinde Olayinka Akinola, Chairman of the Governing Council, emphasized that MAN, established in 1977 with technical support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), was founded as a specialised institution to train shipboard officers, ratings, and maritime management personnel. He noted that the Academy’s enabling law, Cap M3 LFN 2010, allows it to offer advanced maritime programmes without limitations on the type or level of certificates awarded, a framework aligned with global standards.
Akinola warned that replacing MAN with the proposed University of Maritime Studies, Oron, would distort its specialised mandate, weaken the regimented cadet training system, and jeopardize international affiliations. He stressed that the IMO’s long-standing support and recognition of the Academy could be compromised by administrative restructuring that erases MAN’s unique identity.
The Chairman highlighted that MAN’s statutory 5% revenue allocation from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) would be lost under a university structure, creating serious operational challenges for the institution, which relies heavily on these funds to maintain its extensive training facilities.
He attributed the push for conversion largely to agitations by youths from Oron Local Government, who have long campaigned for a university in the area. While acknowledging their right to seek development, Akinola criticized attempts to pursue such aspirations by altering a national institution that serves the entire country, describing it as prioritizing narrow local interests over national strategic needs.
Akinola also expressed concern over increasingly aggressive actions by the Oron Youth Movement (OYOM), including threats to Academy management and cadets and smear campaigns aimed at halting the institution’s progress. He suggested that the hostility may be politically motivated and warned that such actions threaten the stability of the Academy and the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The Chairman highlighted that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Academy has been positioned as a key manpower engine for the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry. Since the Governing Council’s inauguration in October 2024, the Academy has made significant strides, including the development of a five-year strategic plan aligned with national blue economy goals and the approval of a Conditions of Service document—the first in 48 years. A bill amending the UMSO Act to reaffirm MAN’s status and empower it to award degrees, similar to the Nigerian Defence Academy and Police Academy, has also passed its first reading at the National Assembly.
Engr. Akinola underscored the Academy’s commitment to supporting host communities, citing initiatives such as restoring electricity to Oron after eight years and installing solar-powered streetlights as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Drawing comparisons with global maritime institutions, he cited the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, and Kenya’s Bandari Maritime Academy, all of which award degrees while preserving specialised maritime training structures.
He concluded by affirming that the Governing Council remains committed to protecting the Academy’s mandate and advancing the vision of the President. “We will not be intimidated or cowed by any group attempting to appropriate a national asset for narrow interests,” he said.
