OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended for the continued development of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta a State and making it a success story.
This commendation was made by Prof.(Mrs.) Maureen Ongoebi Etebu, Vice Chancellor, Nigeria Maritme University, Okerenkoko while show-casing the institution’s impressive teaching facilities and infrastructure at its take-off campus to the Niger Delta New Vision team from the Office of the Vice President, she disclosed that this has helped in sustaining peace in the Niger Delta region just as she added that the University has become a beacon of hope to Niger Delta youths.
Prof. (Mrs.) Etebu further stated that the Buhari led administration’s efforts towards the development of the University also shows its commitment to improving the maritime sector which is fundamental to the growth and development of the nation’s economy.
.According to Prof.(Mrs) Etebu “we are grateful to the Federal Government for its support, without which, the Maritime University would not have taken off. They have been magnanimous to us. The university’s development was in sync with the Federal Government’s New Vision for the Niger Delta.”
The Vice Chancellor added, “indeed, we have been able to start only because the Federal Government energized the process and released funds to the Maritime University. Recall that the His Excellency (Vice President) even visited here (Niger Delta) and we are grateful. You can see the progress here already. And since the university started, it has contributed to the peace in the Niger Delta region.”
Prof. (Mrs.) Etebu who was in the company of University staff members, added that the ongoing efforts in the university is an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were fully working for the development of the region.
It would be recalled that the University was granted approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.
The Maritime University, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria, commenced full academic activities in April 2018, when its first batch resumed lectures for the 2017/2018 session with thirteen(13 ) departments in three faculties of Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management.
She explained that the Faculty of Transport has four departments: Nautical Science, Transport Logistics Management, Marine Economics and Finance, and Port Management adding that the Faculty of Engineering has five departments made up of Marine Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum and Gas Engineering, and the Faculty of Environmental Management has four departments: Environmental Management and Pollution, Meteorology and Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Marine Geology.
The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that over three hundred (300) undergraduates wrote the first and second semester exams in 2018, adding, “so far, the University has, at January 27, 2019 pre-screened 476 new students who have commenced academic activities for the 2018/2019 session. Of this number, the faculty of Engineering had the highest number of pre-screened students comprising 280 students.”
The VC also lauded the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its financial contributions towards the University’s development, a pointer to the synergy that underpins good relations among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) under the Buhari administration.
She said, “NIMASA have been a big brother to us. Whenever we go to them they are willing to accommodate us. The Director General of NIMASA has indeed been very supportive.”
The Special Assistant to the Vice President on Communication Projects/Niger Delta, Mr. Arukaino Umukoro, expressed his delight at the institution’s facilities, which he attributed to the Buhari administration’s commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region and the nation’s maritime sector.
Mr. Umukoro recalled that “in November 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the University from the N2bn earlier announced to N5bn. This sum was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017. Similarly, an additional N1B was approved by the President to support crucial infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the University. The Delta State government also donated two 500KVA generators to the University.”
Noting that all lecturers in the university went through strict recruitment process before they were employed, Prof.(Mrs.) Etebu added,”all our academic staff have a minimum of second-class upper in their first degree. And they were all employed on merit without any powerful political connection.”
Prof.(Mrs.) Etebu Etebu said that the University has great potential to positively impact development in the region and in the country, she spoke further, “the maritime industry is global and there are so many resources that have not been tapped until now. You have heard our university anthem, “sailing through the marine ways of the world”, so it’s limitless. Being a premier Maritime University, we want to keep the flag flying, and I know we would be number one for a long time.”
