The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, stated this on Thursday at the 2026 graduation ceremony of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State, where 314 cadets graduated. Oyetola, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Fatima Tabi’a Mahmood, said the success of maritime education should be measured not only by the number of graduates produced but also by their transition into professional certification, shipboard employment and productive careers.
The graduating cadets comprised 260 National Diploma (ND) and 54 Higher National Diploma (HND) holders. The minister said the Federal Government’s reforms, including the adoption of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, were designed to unlock the sector’s economic potential, create employment and develop the skilled workforce required to sustain its growth.
He commended NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) for providing mandatory sea-time training for 43 academy cadets aboard NLNG vessels, disclosing that arrangements had been concluded for another batch of 51 graduating cadets to benefit from similar opportunities. Oyetola also acknowledged the contributions of the Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Starzs Investments Limited, Sea Transport Nigeria Limited and other industry operators to the development of maritime manpower.
Oyetola urged the academy to maintain compliance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended, stressing that international confidence in Nigeria’s maritime training standards was essential to the country’s ambition to become a leading supplier of competent seafarers globally. The minister commended the academy for obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification for its Quality Management System and ISO 21001:2025 certification for its Educational Organisations Management System.
He also welcomed the introduction of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to digitise administrative processes and improve efficiency, transparency and service delivery. The ceremony featured a passing-out parade inspected by the special guest of honour, the presentation of awards to outstanding cadets and the official launch of the ECMS.
Representing the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, the State Commissioner for Transport, Dr Anthony Luke, congratulated the graduates and urged them to uphold integrity, discipline and professionalism in their careers. Luke said the state government was investing in maritime infrastructure, including shoreline protection, terminal buildings, passenger ferry services, cold-storage warehouses for fishermen and passenger jetties, as part of efforts to strengthen the blue economy and revive the area’s tourism potential.
Earlier, the Acting Rector of the academy, Dr Kevin Okonna, disclosed that more than 50 cadets had secured placements aboard internationally trading vessels since the November 2025 graduation ceremony, including the 43 cadets undergoing training on NLNG ships. Speaking on behalf of the graduating cadets, Raymond Mmaduachi Osita, who recorded a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.99, attributed his academic success to God and his parents, while expressing appreciation to the academy’s management and lecturers for their contributions to his development.
Key points
- The Federal Government has pledged to strengthen partnerships with maritime operators and training institutions to improve access to professional certification, sea-time experience and global employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers.
