The Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Joshua Okpo, says the school will admit only 980 cadets for its new academic session, in order to maintain a manageable student population.
Okpo said that the decision was to enable the institution maintain its standard in and outside the country.
His words: “For example, out of the about 7,000 who applied to be part of the institution in the next academic session, only 980 may be considered for admission.
Okpo explained that the resolve was intended to boost quality training, and apply a policy thrust to make things work.
He added that MAN had strengthened its training scheme and put in place a rotational directorate, harmony among teaching staff coupled with plans to attain a degree-awarding status and facilitates sea-time training for cadets.
Efforts by the Academy to upgrade its status to that of a degree-awarding institution was given a boost in 2013 by the visit of the President, World Maritime University (WMU), Prof. Bjorn Kjerlve to Nigeria.
Located in Malmö, Sweden, WMU is a postgraduate maritime university founded by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1983.
Kjerive, who was in Nigeria for the first time had in August 2012 in Malmo, played host to a delegation from Nigeria including the transport minister and the rector of MAN.
The visit centered on ways the WMU could collaborate with the ministry of transport and MAN, coupled with how Nigerian students could benefit from the numerous opportunities available at the institution.
At MAN, Kjerive said: “We will establish a number of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government and the Academy. We have been asked by the minister of transport to help evaluate and recommend making the academy even better.
Also, to further consolidate on its agenda to meet the manpower requirement in the nation’s maritime sector, the management of MAN pledged to accelerate ongoing infrastructural development.
Under the phase three development programme of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron the management of the academy has started building new male and female hostels, staff school, shopping mall, major and ring road from the main campus among others.
The school is also planning to resuscitate cooperative society as part of measures to boost staff morale.
The academy also explained that it had expanded its refectory, build new classrooms and e-library while construction of a new mini stadium has reached advanced stage.
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