Nigeria’s premier maritime training institution, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State for the strides it has made over the years.
MAN, Oron which remains the oldest maritime training institution in the country was hailed for its adherence to the provisions of the performance bond it signed with the Federal Government last year.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola in a statement signed by the Head of Department, Public Affairs in the academy, Mr. Domo Umoekpe and made available to Maritime Bits lauded the Acting Rector of MAN, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna for his commitment towards effectively implementing the performance management system (PMS) reform of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the institution.
Oyetola was quoted speaking at a two-day Management Retreat and Ministerial Handholding Session for Performance Management System (PMS) and the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) which took place recently in Oron.
He noted that the retreat was aimed at driving a successful implementation of the PMS and ECMS in the institution.
The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy (FMMBE), Hajia Ibrahim Kalthum stated that the Ministry embarked on these two key reforms to strengthen performance, promote accountability and digital transformation across all its agencies in line with the strategic vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Nigerians.
His words: “The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has in alignment with the vision of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, embarked on a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at strengthening performance, accountability, and digital transformation across all its agencies. The Maritime Academy of Nigeria as Nigeria’s foremost maritime education and training institution must lead by example in embracing these reforms and the ministry is glad that the Academy is taking these key reforms seriously.”
Stating that the PMS and ECMS are fully operational in the Ministry, Oyetola stated that while PMS strategically aligns every staff and department to deliver on FMMBE mandate and MAN, Oron core objectives, ECMS on the other hand streamlines and digitalises records, processes, and workflows, thereby promoting efficiency, transparency, and timely decision-making.
He also emphasised that PMS was not merely about staff appraisals but fundamentally about strategic execution of tasks and that goals are cascaded seamlessly from the national level to institutional, departmental and finally to individual levels.
“Staff performance is assessed objectively using well-defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) while capacity gaps are identified and addressed through targeted training and development. For the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, the reforms will translate into improved training outcomes, global competitiveness and enhanced service delivery to cadets, seafarers and stakeholders in the maritime industry.
“The Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) represents a collective march towards digital transformation, records will no longer be buried in physical files but digitally stored and easily retrieved. Processes will be streamlined, cutting down inefficiencies and delays. Inter-departmental collaboration will be seamless. Data integrity and institutional memory will be preserved for future generations. This is particularly important for the Academy as it seeks international recognition, accreditation, and compliance with global maritime standards,” he said.
The Minister enjoined the Acting Rector to constitute a team of PMS champions who would drive participation and enlightenment of staff in the institution to ensure full compliance.
His words: “I wish to urge the Acting Rector to constitute Performance Management System (PMS) Champions who will help the management drive the effective implementation of this new system. These champions should be visible with dedicated t-shirts and caps and a special day set aside for PMS awareness, just as we have done in the Ministry, where every Thursday our champions wear the PMS uniform and go round creating awareness.”
“As every officer must take responsibility for results, be accountable, be champions of digitalisation, move away from old habits of paperwork and embrace technology and collaboration. Transformation thrives when leadership and staff work as one team.”
He assured that the Ministry will continue to provide the Academy with oversight, technical support, and periodic reviews to ensure the success of the reforms and urged participants to embrace the change and see them as enablers, not burdens.
Okonma in his remarks lauded Oyetola for his exceptional leadership strides which is evident in the Ministry’s outstanding scores in the rating of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) of Ministerial Performance in the Presidential Priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He disclosed that in 2024 MAN, Oron contributions to the FMMBE deliverables include training of 4,775 seafarers and dockworkers, provision of laptops and desktops to more staff to improve productivity, increased staff capacity building drive to promote expertise and improve standards, implementation of the PMS of the Federal Government to promote accountability, amongst others.
While pledging MAN, Oron continuous dedication to contributing its quota to FMMBE deliverables, Okonma referenced the significant role the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy played in helping the academy to secure positive responses from shipping companies and associations for onboard training opportunities for cadets of the school.
On maintenance of standards of safety courses on offer, the Acting Rector said that MAN, Oron is effectively collaborating with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He revealed that the academy would soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa Region, in respect to a course developed by MAN, Oron for the Abuja MOU to enhance deliverables in the sub-region.
According to him, the academy has taken necessary steps to get the Nautical Science cadets registered with the Institute of Nautical Studies, the Engineering cadets registered with the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technologists, (IMarEST), and the Maritime Transport cadets registered with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), Nigeria.
He explained that this is targeted towards ensuring that all the cadets of the academy derive tremendous benefits of membership of these professional bodies.
He also promised to deploy required resources towards the full deployment of the ECMS in the institution henceforth.
“I am proud to celebrate the Honourable Minister, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, for his ingenuity at administering the affairs of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as the Ministry continues to record the highest score in the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) rating of Ministerial Performance in the Presidential Priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”
“I also appreciate the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola and the hard work of the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim and the other PMS/ECMS implementation team members for their contributions in ensuring that the ministry maintains its leadership role in delivering on its mandate towards the achievement of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians.
“I am confident that this retreat will enhance the capacity of the academy’s management to deliver on the 2025 academy’s deliverables as part of the Ministry’s deliverables for the assigned presidential priorities. The theme of the event was “Building capacity for the implementation of the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria”, he said.
The high point of the event was the signing of the 2025 Departmental Performance Bond by the Directors and Heads of Departments with the Acting Rector, MAN, Oron in the presence of Kalthum.
