Maritime Academy Chair Warns Against University Conversion

Kehind Akinola, the chairman of the governing council of the Maritime Academy Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, cautioned stakeholders against the push to convert the academy into a university. He emphasized that such a shift could undermine the institution's core mandate of training skilled professionals and affect its specialized funding streams.

Akinola spoke during a stakeholder engagement on March 1, 2026, highlighting the academy's strength in leveraging its specialized programs linked to global recognition. He noted that the academy was established under an act signed into law in 2022 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, but it has not yet fully transitioned to university status.

The engagement also addressed the importance of public-private partnerships in implementing national policies related to the maritime blue economy. Dr.

Kelvin Okonna, the academy's rector, discussed the need for consistent stakeholder engagement and announced that 80 out of 221 graduating cadets secured employment opportunities. The academy signed a memorandum of agreement with NLNG for onboard training opportunities for cadets over three years.