By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Maritime Academy in Oron, Akwa-Ibom State has been upgraded to a university by federal lawmakers and is now called University of Maritime Studies.
Senators passed the bill on Wednesday, a day after the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) approved King David University of Medical Science, Uburu, Ebonyi State.
And the Senate passed another bill to establish the Institute of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ogoja, Cross River State.
Both bills were passed after the presentation and consideration of two separate reports by the Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND Committee.
The Senate also received the report of the Education (Basis and Secondary) Committee on oversight visits to Ministry, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The report was presented at plenary by Senator Eyakenyi Etim (PDP, Akwa Ibom South) on behalf of Committed Chairman Ibrahim Gaidam (APC, Yobe East).
Senator Sandy Onuh (PDP, Cross River Central) presented the report of the Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND Committee on behalf of Committee Chairman Ahmad Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina North).
Onuh said upgrading the Maritime Academy into a university would help Nigeria achieve International Maritime Organisation (IMO) prerequisites, which include convention on standard of training, certification, and watch-keeping for seafarers.
He added that the university would provide students the opportunity to specialise on international shipping and waterways transportation, port operations, management as well as exploitation and exploration of oil and gas to boost the economy.
Nigeria currently records loses in the maritime sector, he stressed, largely due to deficits in manpower and seafarers while resources are spent on university degrees, and professional courses in all areas of the maritime industry outside Nigeria.
His words: “The maritime environment requires highly trained personnel to manage the country’s enormous natural endowment and resources on our offshores, international shipping, oil and gas and expansion of coastline with waterways for a viable coastal and inland water transport industry.”
Onuh enthused that upgrading the Maritime Academy into a university would benefit host communities in the South South and Nigeria in general.
