Nigeria’s relevance in the Maritime sector has received a boost as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron, gains certification in Integrated Management System (IMS) by the Standard Organization of Nigeria SON. This is in alignment with the broader objective of ensuring that Nigeria not only participates, but leads in maritime innovation and safety sustainability.
The Marine and Blue Economy sector remains a key pillar in Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is committed to strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing human capital development, and promoting the adoption of international standards across all maritime training institutions
According to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Dr Adegboyega Oyetola CON, “the significance of this certification is to position the Academy as a centre of excellence, equipped to produce highly skilled and globally competitive maritime professionals in alignment with the broader objective of ensuring that Nigeria not only participates, but leads in maritime innovation, safety, and sustainability”
Speaking through a Director in the ministry, Dr Okwuche John who represented him, the Minister disclosed that the Federal Government would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving standards and strengthening maritime institutions across the country. He urged the academy’s management to sustain the certification through ongoing compliance, regular internal reviews, and improved service delivery, noting that, “quality, safety, and environmental stewardship are non-negotiable principles in the maritime sector”.
The Minister acknowledged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria for its unwavering dedication to the promotion of standardization and quality assurance across all the sectors.
The Chairman of the Governor Council of the Academy, Engr Kehinde Olayinka Akinola in his remarks, noted that maritime industry operates within a highly regulated international environment where standards, safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement are indispensable, adding that the certification is to further strengthen the credibility and global competitiveness of the Academy and enhance confidence in the quality of our graduates and services.
He however, assure all stakeholders that the Council will continue to provide strategic oversight and support towards strengthening the Academy’s capacity to become a leading maritime training institution not only in Nigeria, but across Africa and beyond.
The Acting Rector, Dr Kevin Okonna in his welcome presentation, said that
at the present level of the Academy’s operations, the institution could no longer satisfy relevant international standards, its statutory mandates and its customers’ requirements without the certification of its Quality Standard System. He cited example in one of the core mandates of the Academy to admit and train the various levels of personnel required for running and operating the ships of the merchant navy.
In his words, “the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (as amended) requires that such training processes must be continuously monitored through a quality standards system to ensure achievement of defined objectives”.
Dr Okonna disclosed that it was in recognition of this requirement and other customers’ needs, that the Academy previously established a Quality Assurance Department and engaged the SON for training and certification of many of its staff in Quality Management System (QMS) up to the lead auditors level (including the present Acting Rector)”.
He acknowledged that the knowledge gained was used to establish a QMS for its operations and obtained approvals and accreditations for its training programmes and courses. However, the established Quality Management System had never been submitted for verification and certification” the Acting Rector disclosed.
Director General of SON, Dr Ifaenyi Chukwunonso Okekek, in his remarks expressed satisfaction with the state-of-the-art training facilities and Commended the Academy’s strategic partnerships with reputable national and international organizations including the World Maritime University, Sweden; The Nautical Institute, United Kingdom; IMarEST; MOWCA; NIMASA; NSML, to strengthen capacity building, research, innovation, and global competitiveness.
“The successful certification of the Academy to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 21001:2025 standards is a strong indication of Management’s commitment to quality, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, educational excellence, and continual improvement”, he concluded.
