Maritime Academy of Nigeria: Four years later

BY SYLVESTER OKWONG
 
When the Federal Ministry of Transport, the supervising Ministry to Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron sent one of its directors from the Ministry to take over as the rector, they were concerned with three critical issues and which translated to the mandate that was handed down to the new helmsman. The mandates included; to calm the unrest that was prevalent in the institution; clean up the institution; reposition the institution for growth. 

 

Mr. Joshua Okpo the Cross River State born administrator of repute has not only delivered on the said mandates, he has exceeded its bounds with revolutionary zeal and turned the institution into a worthwhile Academy with global appeal thus making it a worthy stakeholder in the Maritime industry.

Mr. Joshua E. Okpo whose albeit renewable tenure winds down on July 27, 2015 arrived the Academy four short years ago. The school which was established in 1979 by the Federal Government of Nigeria and transmuted to Maritime Academy of Nigeria in 1988 via Decree 16 of 1988 (now CAP M3LFN 2010) confined all its developmental efforts on Phases 1 and 2. For reasons of clarity, it is pertinent to state that the development phases of the school are classified into phases 1, 2 and 3. The school either due to paucity of funds or sheer lack of vision and perhaps courage took its development in slow, half-hearted steps. These rather reluctant steps kept the development strides in phase 1 for many years with scanty evidence in phase 2. But Okpo refused to share in this reluctance and apparent tepid courage. He plunged into a revolutionary development mantra that has witnessed a rapid expansion of the institution to the extent that it is currently developing albeit simultaneously its second and third phases.

When a deft had meets what many would consider a difficult task, it turns such task into a pleasurable act. This is what Joshua Okpo has done in Maritime Academy, Oron. His passion for development is palpable; his zeal to make a difference is significant while his determination to leave legacies remain unalterable. And so, Okpo’s coming witnessed the tackling of manpower development and infrastructure. The Rector ensured that the below heavy structure of the organogram was dismantled to allow for career progression of others. For instance, he has instituted a policy of rotational directorship to enable ordinary scholars attain the height of their careers. He stated in one of interviews that he believes that the rotational system would bring about peace as desperate quest for positions using the tool of blackmail would be eliminated. Okpo’s strategy has prospects to work and yield beneficial results for the institution.

The Rector’s understanding of the issues has helped in evolving a template that has not only continued to keep the peace but has also given the host community some sense of entitlement. Even though some of them have abused the privileges especially in their inordinate quest to turn the international institution into a community property, Mr. Okpo has continued to maintain cordiality with the community even as he also sacrifices to make some interventions in the community where need arises. His sense of corporate social responsibility is visible in the many interventions like electricity and the employment of over 300 indigenes of the host community. Okpo also played an active role in bringing about peace between two warring communities in the area. Today the hitherto feuding communities live in peace and harmony with each other thereby averting the bloodbath that would have trailed that feud.

Perhaps one area that Mr. Joshua Okpo has scored very high and would for long be remembered is in the area of infrastructure. He has acquitted himself in a way that could earn him the sobriquet of Mr. Infrastructure. For a school he met confined in a specific location, Mr. Okpo has plodded across the initial confinement to build a state-of-the-art mini stadium, staff quarters in phase 3, another set of staff quarters in phase 2, shopping mall, staff school and Navy Post. There are also new buildings like the Marine Engineering block, the Bursary block, the Medical Centre which is still undergoing construction and sundry other structures that are either newly constructed or renovated and which dot the skyline of the College.

But another part of his enthusing leadership style is the primacy that he accords the welfare of the workers, cadets and students. The hostels wear looks of healthy hygienic environment. He has also embarked on the construction of new ones. The staff quarters are built to taste with power available round the clock. There is also efficient water supply with massive tanks aided by effective water reticulation. The administration’s commitment to the welfare of members of the school community is also noticeable not only in the renovated and well furnished refectory but also in the quality of food served. The kitchen which is fitted with modern facilities delivers meals that are prepared under very hygienic conditions. The cadets and students who treated to delicious meals are entitled to one cow daily as a complement. This is in addition to cartons of fish and chicken.

 One of the school’s social services that Mr. Joshua Okpo has elevated to applaudable height is the school medical centre. Before his advent, medical centre existed as a mere nomenclature with a medical doctor operating form an unequipped squalid facility. Today the school has a functional medical centre with five medical doctors, one optometrist, two pharmacists, fourteen nurses, two lab scientists and five lab technicians. The centre has five rooms that can take 15 cadets and can perform minor operations.

In the area of academics, Mr. Okpo has continued to encourage programmes that would produce specialized seafarers that would be relevant in the industry. The school under him has development study models that would accommodate Diploma-Level Seafarers; Degree level seafarers and Degree level non seafarers. According to him, our people should undertake programmes that would give them more sea time asserting that it is the only way to be a sought after in the industry.

Mr. Joshua has in four years made enormous contributions to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. The contributions have leaped-frog the institution into a global phenomenon attracting stakeholders from all over the world. Okpo has made himself a study in diligent service and a doyen of administrative sagacity. Those in the various stations of our public service must emulate his espousal which asserts that whatever God puts in your hand to do, do it the best way you can and leave a legacy.