The Sea Time Debate That Had Engineering Hall 2 Buzzing

The official flyer for the NANMS NDU Intra-Departmental Debate Competition, March 2026.

On the morning of Wednesday, March 18, Engineering Hall 2 at Niger Delta University filled up fast. Students from 100 level all the way to 500 level — nearly 180 of them — came out for what turned into one of the most lively intellectual events the Department of Marine Engineering has seen in a while.

The occasion was the NANMS NDU Chapter's Intra-Departmental Debate Competition, organized under the leadership of President Efezino Elvis Maro. The motion on the table was pointed and personal: "The Sea Time Dilemma: Is Mandatory Sea Time the Biggest Threat to Nigerian Maritime Cadets?"

For maritime students at NDU, this wasn't abstract. Sea time — the mandatory offshore training period required before certification — is something every student in that room will eventually have to navigate. Getting it right, or getting stuck, can define the trajectory of a career.

"Each debater effectively linked their arguments to personal career aspirations within the maritime industry."

Two sides, one truth

Team A took the opposing side, making the case that sea time is not a threat but a cornerstone — that the hands-on exposure it provides is exactly what separates a competent maritime officer from someone who only knows theory. Team B argued the other side: that while sea time is valuable in principle, the systemic barriers around accessing it — limited berths, high costs, and poor industry support structures — make it a genuine threat to cadets trying to progress.

Both teams came prepared. Each debater had five minutes to make their case, and the arguments were sharp. When the moderators finished their evaluation — judging on clarity, relevance, and delivery — Team A emerged as the winners. But the bigger winner, honestly, was the quality of the conversation itself.

Debaters collecting awards and certifications for participating

More than a debate

The event was anchored by three distinguished professionals: Engr. Capt. CAN Johnson, who served as Adjudicator and Speaker; Abraham Edisemi Gladys, Marine and Subsea Engineer, as Moderator; and Engr. Benson J. Boyelayefa, Academic Technologist, as co-Moderator. Akin-Charles O., VP of NANMS NDU, kept the energy going as compere throughout the afternoon.

Engr. Capt. Johnson didn't just judge — he also delivered a special lecture on financial literacy for students entering a profession where offshore earnings can be significant but financial planning is rarely taught. It was one of those moments where the curriculum extended well beyond the original agenda.

Key moments from the day

1. 180 students from 100L to 500L filled Engineering Hall 2
2. Team A won on the motion — sea time as necessary, not threat
3. Special lecture on financial literacy by Engr. Capt. CAN Johnson
4. Launch of the Blue Impact Maritime Outreach initiative
5. Certificates of participation awarded to all debaters

Blue Impact: looking beyond campus

Perhaps the most forward-looking moment of the day was the launch of the Blue Impact Maritime Outreach — a new initiative by NANMS NDU aimed at going into secondary schools and introducing young students to maritime as a career path. The grand finale of the outreach is scheduled for the Main Campus Auditorium, NDU. It's exactly the kind of work that makes a student association more than a title on a certificate.

Every debater received a certificate of participation — a small but meaningful recognition for students who stood up, took a position, and argued it in front of their peers. That takes more courage than most people give credit for.

"The event not only enriched participants intellectually but also strengthened the academic and professional culture within the department."

NANMS Executives presenting the Blue Impact Maritime Outreach

The people who made it happen

Behind every event like this is a team that started planning long before the flyers went up. Efezino Elvis Maro as President and Chief Host, Akin-Charles O. as VP and Compere, Comr. Precious as Secretary General, and PRO Onodegba Churchman — alongside the full NANMS executive team — put this together with the kind of care that shows on the day.

If this is what NANMS NDU delivers in a single afternoon, the Blue Impact grand finale at the main campus auditorium is one to watch.

NAMNS Executive Team and hosts.