In spite of the heavy down pour that characterized the day, the foremost privately owned Maritime Institute in Nigeria, Charkin Maritime Academy, went ahead and concluded its first matriculation and induction ceremony of Cadets Regiment for 2021/2022 Sessions.
The event held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the Academy Main Campus, Kilometer 4 East-West Road, Ozuoba, Port Harcourt, was graced by many personalities, which included; the first military administrator of old Rivers State, and chairman, Governing Board of the Academy, HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff; HRM, Eze Orlu Oriebe, Nyenwe-Eli Akpor Kingdom, HRH, Eze Amadi Weli of Choba Clan; Hon. Ken Chikere, member representing PHALGA 1 Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and his wife; Rt. Rev Wisdom Ihunwor, Bishop Niger Delta North Diocese; Prof Frank Nlerum, Provost School of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt; Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman, Barr. George Ariolu; Sir Alwell Ihunda, Mayor of PHALGA; Capt. Joshua Nii Addo, Director Schulte Maritime Services Ghana; and several others.
Earlier, King Alfred Diete-Spiff had inspected a guard of honour mounted by the matriculating and inductee Cadets Regiment.
In his address, provost of the Academy, Dr. Egben O. Okore expressed great honour and pleasure at the ceremony, he specially recognized all parents and sponsors present to witness the historic event, saying encouraging their children and wards to choose Charkin Maritime Academy is a clear indication that they want the best maritime education and training for them as well as a rewarding career in the global maritime industry, of which, the Nigerian Maritime Industry is a part. He described Charkin Maritime as an academic excellence aimed at delivering world-class maritime education and training.
According to Dr. Egben, CMA is a private maritime education and training institution established in 2016 by Sir (Dr.) Charles K. Wami to provide functional and quality education and training in maritime studies, as well as research support for individuals and organizations in the maritime industry.
“The programmes are therefore, carefully designed towards producing quality merchant-navy officers and ratings as well as maritime administrators capable of meeting the changes, demands and challenges in the 21st century global maritime industry,” the provost pointed out.
He further informed that the Academy offers programmes that enhance maritime manpower development in Nigeria through partnership with relevant shipping and allied organizations to provide opportunities and openings for the institution’s graduates.
“Thus our cadets will be equipped not only with round knowledge of the theoretical but also with well-balanced practical training. For this purpose, the Charkin Maritime Academy Management has on board a team of thoroughbred academicians with outstanding pedigree, handpicked and with long years of experience in the industry”, Dr. Egben stated.
He explained that Charkin Maritime Academy is unique in many ways, as it has the singular honour of being the only private maritime institution in Nigeria that is accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to run National Diploma courses in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering Technology and also by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to run both Foreign-Going and Near Coastal Voyages (NCV) Watch-Keeping Courses for Deck Officers, Marine Engineers, among others.
In his welcome address, the founder/chief executive officer of Charkin Maritime Academy, Sir (Dr.) Charles Kinikanwo Wami expressed great appreciation to God Almighty for the ceremony, which he noted was the first and second batches of Merchant Navy cadets of the prestigious Academy, saying the event was truly a dream come true. He said it was conceptualized more than four decades ago while he was a student at the Rivers State Sea School, Isaka.
Sir Wami stated that Charkin Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, operators of Charkin Maritime Institution is an indigenous maritime and oil and gas institution, reiterating that the centre is approved by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nautical Institute (NI), International Well- Control Forum (IWCF), ISO 9001: 2015 Quality Management System and OHSAS 18001: 2007 (SGS) Rivers State Ministry of Education.
“We have been affiliated with the Regional Marity University, Accra, Ghana, since 2001 and are members of ISPON, PETAN, OGTAN, IASST, and IMCA,” he informed, adding that Charkin was awarded, “The Best Maritime Education and Training Institute” twice in a row (2017 and 2018) by NIMASA. “We also received the Shell Petroleum and Development Company Safety Award for 10 years without LTI,” he added.
Sir Wami further explained: “The need to establish Charkin Maritime Academy, which is the first private maritime academy in Nigeria, was borne out of the desire to develop young boys and girls in Nigeria from 16 to 22 years of age, as Global Merchant Navy Officers,” pointing out that 39 Cadets who were offered admission into the Academy, who have been successful in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), are among those being matriculated and inducted. While revealing that the Academy has 12 plots of undeveloped land behind the cadets’ accommodation which needs development for facility expansion, the proprietor called on the federal, states, and local governments and their agencies, corporate bodies, international oil companies, religious organizations and individuals to sponsor the youths in maritime education and training.
“In the next seven to eight years, these cadets matriculating today will become captains (Master Mariners Foreign Going), and chief engineers (Foreign Going) of Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) and Large Container Carriers of 15,000 containers”, stressing that they would bring in foreign exchange through remittances to the country, states, their communities and families.
He specially thanked three local government chairmen in Rivers State- Hon. Erastus Awortu of Andoni, Hon. George Ariolu of Obio/Akpor and Sir (Hon.) Alwell Ihunda of PHALGA for using their resources to build human capacity in the maritime industry. He appealed to other local governments in Rivers State and beyond to participate in the program.
The Charkin Maritime Academy CEO, also acknowledged the former vice-chancellor of Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana, Capt. Dr. Aaron Obeng Turkson, who signed the MOU and affiliated with Charkin Sir (Dr) in February 2001, Prof. Emeritus Simeon C. Achinewhu, former vice-chancellor, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof. Emenike N. Wami; president-general Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, and Capt. Joshua Nii Addo, director of Bernhard Schulte African Region.
Sir Wami, also expressed deep thanks and appreciation to his wife, Lady Chisa Wami and his children for their constant support and prayers. He also thanked members of the Governing Council and every staff of Charkin Maritime Academy for their wholehearted support, as well as all who graced the occasion despite their busy schedules.
Director of Schulte Maritime Services, Ghana, Capt. Joshua Nii Addo, while delivering his speech, congratulated the CEO of Charkin Maritime Academy and his board of directors for their bold bid to add value to the maritime industry in Africa through education.
The Ghanaian institute director told the congregation that in October 2019, the institute signed an MOU with Charkin to enable Charkin cadets have placement on board their (Schulte Maritime Services) vessels through their vigorous pre -selection recruiting process to begin their sea career with them after graduation. He entreated all cadets to study hard and be of great conduct and discipline.
“It will be our pride to see you being our future captains and chief engineers on board our vessels to hail the pride of Africa high. Our Cadetship project which started in 2012 with 16 cadets have grown senior officers as of today, and we believe you will also add to the glory.”
In their goodwill messages, the three local government chairmen of Andoni, Obio/Akpor, Hon Awortu, Ariolu and Sir Ihunda, on behalf of the people of their LGAs, felicitated with the founder/CEO, management and newly matriculated and inducted cadets, noting that; “the importance of the Academy cannot be over emphasized as it is the desire of governments and individuals to promote maritime education”.
They commended Sir Wami on his foresight in setting up the institution for the benefit of Rivers State and the country at large. “We are very proud of you and wish you maintain the standard you have set”, they charged as they advised the students to take their studies very serious for their future betterment. They assured the Academy of their continuous partnership and patronage.
Some parents interviewed expressed total joy over the development, giving thanks to God for the opportunities offered their wards. They also expressed hope that their wards would bring joy to the families. On their part, the cadets interviewed said they were honoured by the uncommon favour granted them, and assured they would make judicious use of the opportunities to excel.
