Ogbeneruona Tejiri, Kurutie, Delta
The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety Education and Administration has commended Tompolo Foundation over her roles in the establishment as well as stability and growth of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
This commendation was given by Hon. Uduak Alphonsus, Leader of the Committee in Kurutie, administrative Campus of the University while there on oversight functions, he said that the major problem facing the university now is inadequate funding.
Hon. Uduak said that from what they saw on ground at the two Campuses of the University at Okerenkoko and Kurutie shows that Tompolo Foundation provided about 40% of initial facilities for the university to take off.
Accordng to the Leader of the House of Representatives Committee, “I want to use this opportunity to express our appreciation to Tompolo Foundation, because from our assessment, reports and temporary findings on ground, 40% of what we’ve seen here and even in other campuse that we’ve gone is done by Tompolo Foundation. We are grateful to the Foundation..
” I will also commend the communities for graciously donating their lands. That means they want development. We saw students living in hostels not fenced, that shows that the people are peace loving.
“We have seen the challenges faced by the University first hand, the staff are working at disadvantaged positions, there are no no good medical facilities among many issues. We have asked the management of this institution to bring up their challenges in bullet point by point so that as a Committee, we should be able to take it up before the House and leadership of the National Assembly. You know, a lot of these problems will be solved.”
Hon. Uduak also commended staff of the University for their dedication and commitment towards the growth of the University, adding, “to work in this type of riverine terrain inside the heart of the Niger Delta region deserves a sacrificial heart, a lot of sacrifices on their parts, if you don’t have a sacrificial heart, you cannot work in the university. That is the truth because of the environment and terrain.”
Hon. Uduak disclosed that the major problem of the University is inadequate funding,, adding, “the major issue is just inadequate funding. And so we’ll do our best to ensure that the place is funded and so that they can also compete favourably with other universities outside Nigeria.”
Earlier, Engr Prof Emmanuel Munakorogha Adigio, Vice Chancellor, Nigeria Maritime University (NMU)highlighted the problems of the institution to include inadequate hostel accommodation, lecture halls, staff welfare and incentives among many others.
At the temporary palace of HRM Oboro-Gbaruan II, Aketekpe of Gbaramatu kingdom, the Monarch who spoke through High Chief Godspower Gbenakama urged the Committee to speed up the process of enacting the appropriate establishment act of the University adding that as the proverbial Oliver Twist, the Kingdom would want the Federal Government and relevant government agencies to increase funding of the University.
