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Nigerian govt appoints Okonna acting Rector Maritime Academy

The Federal Government has appointed Dr Kevin Okonna as the acting Rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron in Akwa Ibom.

The appointment takes immediate effect, following the resignation of the former rector, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) from the academy.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs of the Academy, Mrs Domo Umoekpe, in Uyo on Monday.

Umoekpe said the appointment was conveyed in a letter issued by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, on behalf of the Federal Government.

She said the minister urged Okonna to bring his extensive wealth of experience in the maritime sector to bear on his new role.

She added that with the appointment of the acting rector, the academy would continue to contribute effectively to the realisation of the ministryโ€™s vision and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

โ€œOkonna is a distinguished maritime scholar with about three decades of dedicated service to the Academy.

โ€œHe holds impressive educational and professional credentials from recognised national and international institutions, including world maritime university, Malmo Sweden.

โ€œHaving risen through the ranks, he has served the Academy in various capacities.

โ€œThese include being pioneer Head of Maritime Safety Department, pioneer Director of the defunct MAN Consultancy Services, pioneer Director of Strategy and Research and Development Directorate.

โ€œAlso, as a distinguished member of the Nautical Institute (NI), UK, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT),โ€ she said.

She added that Okonna had contributed immensely to the development of the Academy