Nigeria’s quest to modernise maritime education is gaining traction as the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, has started a transition from paper-based administration to a fully digital performance and content management system, a move the Federal Government says is central to raising global standards and improving training for cadets.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Ministry, Ibrahim Kalthum, gave the commendation at a two-day Management Retreat and Ministerial Handholding Session on Performance Management System (PMS) and Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) held at the Academy.

He said the reforms underway at the Academy reflect a deliberate culture of accountability and a determination to align with international best practices in maritime training.

The minister noted that the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy embarked on the dual reforms of PMS and ECMS to strengthen efficiency, improve service delivery and support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, the Academy, as the nation’s foremost maritime training institution, is expected to lead by example in implementing these reforms. He added that the ECMS, already operational in the Ministry, would help the Academy transition from paper-based processes to a digital framework, ensuring efficiency, transparency and preservation of institutional memory.

The minister stressed that with ECMS, records would be digitally stored, workflows streamlined, and inter-departmental collaboration improved, which is vital for the Academy’s pursuit of international recognition and compliance with global maritime standards.

In his response, the acting rector noted that the Ministry’s reform-driven approach had earned high ratings from the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) in its assessment of ministerial performance against the Presidential Priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Okonna outlined the Academy’s contributions to the Ministry’s deliverables in 2024, which included training 4,775 seafarers and dockworkers, providing laptops and desktops to more staff to improve productivity, strengthening staff capacity through targeted training, and advancing the implementation of PMS in line with the Federal Government’s directive.

He further disclosed that the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy had played a critical role in securing support from shipping companies and associations for onboard training opportunities for cadets.