The Senate on Wednesday 16th November, 2016 passed for second reading a bill to establish the Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, in Delta State. The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the Maritime University which was established in 2014 but was closed down in January, 2016.
Leading the debate on the bill, Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta) stated that the bill would promote education among the indigenes of the Niger Delta and added that Ghana was the only country in West Africa with a Maritime University. He also argued that the maritime sector had huge potential requiring high level technical, scientific and administrative skills to drive it and was of the view that the university would improve Nigeria’s capacity and manpower in the sector. Furthermore, he noted that the bill would bring development to the oil and gas communities in the region and curb youth restiveness by creating employment for youths in the area.
Some of the objectives for which the university is established is to encourage the advancement of learning, develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, post-graduate research and higher degrees.
In a related development, a bill seeking to establish the Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron in Akwa Ibom State sponsored by Sen. Nelson Effiong (PDP:AkwaIbom) was also read for the second time. It seeks to upgrade the present Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron to a degree awarding institution.
Both bills have been referred to the committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative input.
