Oyetola, Akutah push skills, integrity-driven maritime workforce

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to strengthening maritime education, professional certification and practical sea-time training, with the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, calling for stronger collaboration between training institutions and industry operators to produce a competent, employment-ready maritime workforce.

Oyetola made the call in an address delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs Fatima Sugra Mahmood, at the 2026 Cadets’ Graduation Ceremony of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

The Minister stressed that maritime graduates must acquire the professional qualifications, practical experience and industry-relevant competencies required to function effectively in the increasingly demanding maritime sector.

He said closer collaboration between maritime training institutions and industry operators was essential to bridging the gap between classroom instruction and professional practice.

According to him, such partnerships would strengthen the quality of maritime education, improve graduates’ employability and ensure that Nigeria develops a workforce capable of meeting the operational and technical demands of the marine and blue economy.

Oyetola reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve maritime education, enhance professional standards and equip young Nigerians with the skills required to contribute meaningfully to the sector.

Akutah Announces Annual Award of Honesty

Akutah

A major highlight of the ceremony was the announcement by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), Dr Pius Akutah, MON, of plans to introduce an annual Award of Honesty for three cadets of the Academy, beginning in 2027.

Akutah said the initiative was designed to promote integrity, ethical conduct and professionalism among young maritime practitioners, stressing that technical competence must be matched by honesty and responsible behaviour.

He made the announcement while delivering his goodwill message at the graduation ceremony, where he congratulated the cadets on successfully completing their academic training.

The NPERA chief executive described graduation as the beginning of a new phase in the graduates’ professional lives, offering opportunities to acquire practical experience, advance their careers and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.

He urged them to approach their careers with dedication, discipline and a commitment to continuous learning, noting that the transition from academic training to professional practice demands resilience, responsibility and a willingness to adapt to industry developments.

Akutah emphasised that professional competence alone was insufficient to build a credible maritime industry, insisting that integrity and ethical conduct were equally important in sustaining public confidence and institutional accountability.

He explained that the proposed Award of Honesty would serve as an incentive for young professionals to uphold ethical values and demonstrate the character required for responsible leadership and professional excellence.

The initiative is expected to reinforce the importance of integrity at the early stages of maritime careers and encourage graduates to regard honesty as a fundamental requirement of professional service.

Another major development at the ceremony was the formal launch of the Academy’s Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), an initiative aimed at improving administrative efficiency, transparency and accountability in its operations.

The digital platform is expected to support more efficient management of institutional records and information, while strengthening administrative processes within the Academy.

The development reflects the growing importance of digital transformation in educational institutions, particularly those responsible for preparing professionals for an increasingly technology-driven maritime industry.

The messages from Oyetola and Akutah underscored the need for a coordinated approach to maritime human-capital development, bringing together government, training institutions, regulatory bodies and private-sector operators.

While the Minister emphasised practical training, professional certification and industry collaboration, the NPERA chief executive highlighted the importance of integrity and ethical standards in shaping the next generation of maritime professionals.

Together, the positions point to the need for maritime education that goes beyond academic qualifications to include practical competence, professional discipline and the values required to sustain a credible industry.

For the graduating cadets, the challenge now is to translate their academic preparation into professional performance, while embracing continuous learning and the ethical responsibilities associated with working in the maritime sector.

The Federal Government’s renewed emphasis on skills development, alongside NPERA’s proposed integrity award, signals a broader push to develop a skilled, disciplined and responsible workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s marine and blue economy ambitions.