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DELTA STATE, Nigeria —The Naval Institute of Technology Ogorode, Sapele in Delta State has graduated no fewer than 88 military officers in marine, weapon electrical, and automobile engineering.
Among the graduates, 46 are specialised in marine engineering, 27 in Weapon Electrical Engineering, and 15 in Automobile Engineering.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony, where 88 graduates were awarded diplomas after completing intensive training on Saturday, the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Rear Admiral Istifanus Abara, represented by the Chief of Naval Engineering, Rear Admiral Baratuaipri Iyalla, lauded the institute’s efforts in developing skilled technologists to boost human capacity development.
He remarked that the graduates would manage advanced platforms and systems crucial to maritime operations.
He hailed the contributions of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, in advancing the Navy’s technological capacity.
He emphasised the need for cutting-edge systems like drones, aircraft, and maritime domain awareness platforms, stressing, “Innovation and human capacity development are crucial for securing Nigeria’s critical oil and gas assets.”
“Initially established in 1982 as the Nigerian Navy Technical Training Centre the Naval Institute of Technology has undergone a remarkable transformation.
“From providing “Artificer-styled” training tailored to ship maintenance, it has evolved into a distinguished centre of excellence accredited by the National Board for Technical Education.
“Today, NIT offers National Diploma programmes in Marine and Electrical/Electronic Engineering and Higher National Diploma programmes with specialities in Electronics, Telecommunications, and Power and Machines,” he said.
While delivering his address, the Commandant of NIT, Rear Admiral Sunday Oyegade, reaffirmed the institution’s dedication to maintaining global standards.
“The NBTE accreditation ensures our curriculum is robust, blending theoretical knowledge with practical expertise, equipping our graduates to thrive within the Navy and beyond,” the Commandant stated
Oyegade urged the new graduates to uphold the values of excellence and service in their naval careers and beyond.
He said, “This marks the beginning of new opportunities. Let your contributions reflect the high standards of this institution.”
In a keynote address themed “Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Contemporary Nigerian Navy Operations: The Role of Naval Engineering”, retired Commodore Uba Ajala, highlighted the critical role of artificial intelligence and innovation in maritime security and encouraged graduates to remain adaptive and forward-thinking.
