The Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) has revealed that 15 of its staff are currently in India undergoing training on the use of the Academy’s simulator machines that are expected to start arriving by mid of February 2020.
Disclosing this in an interview with Tribune Online, Commodore Effedua stated that another batch of 15 workers will be joining the first batch once the Academy gets the go-ahead from the Honourable Minister of Transportation.
“We shall be receiving the three simulators from mid-February to April this year. The first that shall arrive is the Full Mission Bridge Simulator, which 15 lecturers of the Academy are learning to operate now in India.
“Once we receive Ministerial approval, another set of 15 lecturers will also proceed to India for training. We made sure we added the component on training our staff who will man them (simulators) in the contract. That’s where we are now.
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“We shall also receive the Full Mission Engine Rooms Simulator and the Multifunctional Classroom which can accommodate 30 cadets at a time before the end of April.
“With that, we shall be first in the sub-continent to own such equipment and this has a multiplier effect in the industry. These equipment are the latest. They are modern, not generic. Built for purpose,” Commodore Duja Effedua stated to Tribune Online.
The Rector also revealed that modalities are in place towards the acquisition of an helicopter and other underwater equipments for the training of offshore personnel from the maritime and oil and gas industry in the Academy, stating that this equipment will boost the Academy’s chances of getting the Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (OPITO) certification, an international certification for offshore training institutions.