The Federal Government has appointed Dr. Kevin Okonna as the acting Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) in Oron, Akwa Ibom, following the resignation of Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd). Okonna’s appointment is effective immediately, as announced in a statement issued by Mrs. Domo Umoekpe, Head of Public Affairs at the Academy.
This appointment, conveyed by a letter from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, commended Okonna’s wealth of experience in the maritime sector. The minister expressed confidence that Okonna would play a vital role in advancing the Academy’s contributions to the vision of the Ministry and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Okonna, a respected maritime scholar with nearly three decades of service at the Academy, holds remarkable qualifications from both national and international institutions, including the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden. His extensive career at the Academy includes pioneering roles such as Head of the Maritime Safety Department, Director of the now-defunct MAN Consultancy Services, and Director of the Strategy and Research and Development Directorate.
In addition to his academic and professional achievements, Okonna is a distinguished member of the Nautical Institute (NI), UK, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). His contributions have significantly shaped the development of the Maritime Academy, and his leadership is expected to further bolster its impact on Nigeria’s maritime sector.