The Federal Government has appointed Dr. Kevin Okonna as the Acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom State. The appointment follows the resignation of Retired Commodore Duja Effedua, who served as the Rector of the prestigious institution. The announcement was made by the Head of the Public Affairs Department, Domo Umoekpe, in a statement shared with The Trumpet in Uyo on Sunday.
According to the statement, Dr. Okonna’s appointment was formalized in a letter signed by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. In the letter, the Federal Government urged Dr. Okonna to leverage his extensive experience in the maritime sector to ensure a smooth transition and provide the necessary leadership for the Academy’s continued development.
Dr. Okonna, a distinguished maritime scholar, brings nearly 30 years of service to the Academy. He holds impressive educational credentials, including qualifications from recognized national and international institutions, and is an alumnus of the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden. His career at the Academy has seen him rise through the ranks, serving in various capacities, including as the pioneer Head of Maritime Safety Department, Director of the defunct MAN Consultancy Services, Director of Strategy, Research and Development Directorate, and Coordinator of the expanded Specialized Seafarers Training Centre.
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A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and a distinguished member of the Nautical Institute (NI) in the UK, Dr. Okonna has made substantial contributions to the development of the Academy. His work has included facilitating the accreditation and delivery of specialized seafarers courses, driving research initiatives, and fostering key industry partnerships. Additionally, he has represented the Academy in several important Federal Government committees, including the Local Organizing Committee for the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) in 2016, and the Federal Government’s Interim Management Committee, which worked on restructuring and repositioning the Academy in 2017.
In his first statement as Acting Rector, Dr. Okonna expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the opportunity and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on the responsibilities entrusted to him. He emphasized the Academy’s crucial role in training maritime professionals and aligning with the strategic vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the leadership of Adegboyega Oyetola. Dr. Okonna is determined to work tirelessly to attract further developments to the Academy, ensuring it plays a key role in transforming Nigeria into a global maritime powerhouse in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
