The Alumni of Maritime
Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Port Harcourt chapter, has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for re-appointing Dr Joshua Okpo as Rector of the academy, describing the appointment as well deserved and a round peg in a round hole.
The alumni in a statement signed by its spokesman, Deacon Mark Okuru said his re-appointment would further take the academy to the next level, as he would used his wealth of experience to bear.
The statement opined that during his first tenure, the institution witnessed tremendous academic and infrastructural development than ever before, inspite of the lean financial provisions to the Academy by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency  (NIMASA) during the period, adding that they are optimistic that he would consolidate on the gains already achieved as well as break new grounds.
They appealed to the authorities and the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to consider the main aims and objectives of the institution as a degree awarding university, taking cognizance of the fact of its professional standard and global attachments to the maritime studies and practices.
According to the statement, converting the Academy to a degree awarding institution is long overdue and would be a welcome development, stressing that to achieve this, modalities should be worked in line with the directive of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) three models of low level manpower, that is the professional certificates courses being runned by the Academy, secondly the National Diploma and the Higher National Diploma, which are certified by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), at Kaduna, and lastly the degree itself or higher degrees.
“We the Alumnus are only interested in this direction because of our experience as products of this institution who are currently in the field”, the statement further said.
The body also appealed to the Federal Government to approve the procurement of on-board ship for the Academy to have a proper sea time experience by the Cardets, which according to them posses a great obstacle in the Academy , as being practiced by other maritime institutions all over the world.
The alumnus however congratulate the Rector, MAN, Oron, Dr Joshua Okpo on his well-deserved re-appointment and wishes him the best.

Collins Barasimeye