History was made in the ancient coastal port city of Oron, Akwa Ibom state, on Tuesday, when the Director General of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, presented the Integrated Management System (IMS) Certificate to Nigeria’s premier maritime institution, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria at a ceremony akin to the trappings of an Olympic gold medal presentation ceremony. It was pomp and pageantry as the Academy multi-purpose Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi Hall, venue of the epoch-making event, was filled as stakeholders and community leaders converged at the 49-year-old Academy for this landmark event. For the Academy’s Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna, the event was a dream come true, and an affirmation and reward for several years of painsaking efforts aimed at building a legacy maritime Academy that would be a pride not only to Nigeria, but the entire African continent and beyond. An elated Okonna explained that ” given the present level of the Academy ‘s operation, the institution could no longer satisfy relevant international standards , its statutory mandates and customer’s requirement without the certification of Quality Standard System”.
The Rector maintained that if the Academy’s core mandate is to admit and train various levels of personnel required for running and operating ships of the merchant navy, they must align with International Conventions on Standards of Training , Certification and Watchkeeping for Seaferers 1978(as ammended), requires that such training process must be continously monitored standards. Dr Okonna further explained that it was in realization of this goal that the Academy establised a Quality Assurance Department, engaged SON for training and certification of its staff in Quality Management System. Describing the ceremony as a milestone, Marine and Blue Economy Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola, was full of praises for the giant strides of the Academy under the watch of the acting Rector , culminating in the Academy’s aquisition of the IMS certificate which according to him is a clear demonstration of commitment of excellence ,quality assurance and enviromental sustainability . While commending SON, Oyetela said this milestone underscores the Academy’s adherence to internationaly recognised standards and best practices . Said Oyetola: “It reflects a strong culture of continous improvement , accountability, and operational efficiency in today’s highly globally competetive maritime professionals”. The minister disclosed that this initiative by MAN, Oron , aligns with the broader objective of the present adminstration not only to participate but to become a leader in maritime innovations, safety and sustainability. In his remarks, SON Director General, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke commended the Academy’s partnership with reputable local and international organisations including the World Maritime University, Sweden, the Nautical Institute, UK, IMArSET, MOWCA ,NIMASA , NSML and other maritime institutions and stakeholders. He said these collaborations have strenghtened capacity building , research, innovation and global competetiveness. Dr Okeke challenged the Academy to take the ISO Ceritification not as an end to the journey but the beginning of continous improvement and urged the Rector to sustain the momentum while urging staff of the Academy to continually improve standards into their daily culture. It would be recalled that no fewer than 75 staffers of the Academy drawn from various department were engaged in a three month programme by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria as a prelude to this ISO certification.