The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has said it is saddened by a statement credited to the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, referring the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, as a proposed university.
Barrister Pereotubo Oweilaemi, IYC President, Worldwide, in a statement on Wednesday, said the group did not want to believe that the media reports on the committee represented its true position, stressing that there was need to promptly correct the misconceptions.
IYC said: “The Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is a going concern as the school has been in existence since 2017. The institution has matriculated students in two consecutive academic sessions, while students are already going to 300 level in the next academic session which will commence in December this year.
“The university has hosted the Vice President of this Country, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo twice. It has also hosted officials of the prestigious Caribbean Maritime University, Jamaica. It must be noted also that students of the Institution are currently undergoing Internship and Industrial Training programmes across the country.
“Why such an institution should be referred to as a proposed university? What the House Committee needs to know is that the school has been duly accredited by NUC and all other regulatory institutions, including UTME with several of the government’s agencies have visited it to inspect and confirm the facilities on ground.”
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On the committee’s report that no structure was on ground to account for the money NIMASA had spent on the school, IYC said it did not want to get involved in how money appropriated to the university was spent as that would be the responsibility of relevant government’s agencies, adding that its concern was the impression wrongly created that no structure was on ground.
‘What is so glaring to the world is that the school has state-of-the-art facilities at its temporary site, Kurutie in the Gbaramatu Kingdom. The House Committee should come clearer if they are referring to the permanent site at Okerenkoko.
“Just as academic activities are going on at the temporary site, various intervention agencies have also executed different kinds of projects for the school such as concrete pavement walkway, landing jetty, staff and students utility boats, etc.
“Though we are not trying to usurp the functions of the House, we appeal that funds appropriated to the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, should not be unduly withheld. The school is in dire need of funding as its sources of finance are not sufficient for its optimum performance.
“The House Committee should use this medium to prevail on the executive arm to immediately commence the construction of buildings at the permanent site, Okerenkoko. Already the school has admitted thousands of students from over 25 States of the Federation.
“There is an urgent need for academic activities to take place at the permanent site in order for the institution to admit more deserving Nigerians who want to acquire knowledge in maritime activities,” he said.
