Prof. Emmanuel Onwioduokit has responded to concerns about the proposed upgrade of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria into a specialised maritime university. He stated that the transition is globally supported and economically beneficial to Nigeria. Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Kehinde Akinola, had cautioned against converting the academy into a conventional university, citing potential effects on its specialised training focus and international standards.
Onwioduokit argued that the opposition to the upgrade is based on assumptions rather than verifiable facts, and that global maritime education standards demonstrate that upgrading academies into universities strengthens training systems. He cited examples of leading maritime institutions around the world that successfully combine academic degree programmes with professional training. Onwioduokit also noted that Nigeria lacks sufficient specialised maritime universities, which is a major institutional weakness in the country's blue economy development.
The professor assured that the upgrade would not weaken professional certification programmes, but rather enhance them with improved simulators, facilities, and industry linkages. He stated that the Maritime University will serve as a catalyst for national development by producing skilled manpower, driving innovation, and creating employment.
Prof. Emmanuel Onwioduokit's argument that the Maritime University will boost Nigeria's economy contradicts Kehinde Akinola's concerns about the potential negative impact on the academy's specialised training focus. This contradiction highlights the need for clarity on how the upgrade will affect the institution's core functions. The proposed upgrade has significant implications for Nigeria's ability to produce a critical mass of maritime professionals, including marine engineers and logistics experts. The success of the Maritime University will depend on its ability to balance academic development with professional training, as seen in international examples cited by Onwioduokit.
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