The Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state which received the nod of the National Universities Commission (NUC) last week, hurriedly placed advertisement for candidates who wrote the last JAMB examinations to apply for admission.
Our correspondent confirmed last week that the offer, which was for a few days, however closed by last weekend.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, had confirmed that the NUC had granted approval to the Maritime University, to begin undergraduate degree programmes from the 2017/2018 academic session.
He said the approval underscored FG’s commitment to develop Niger Delta in line with the Buhari administration’s new vision to develop the region.
According to the release, the NUC approved that academic activities begin in three faculties namely: Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management.
Akande said that Faculty of Transport has four departments, namely: Nautical Science, Transport Logistics Management, Marine Economics and Finance, and Port Management.
He said Faculty of Engineering has five departments – Marine Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Petroleum and Gas Engineering.
Also Faculty of Environmental Management has four departments: Environmental Management and Pollution, Meteorology and Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Marine Geology.
He reiterated that the Maritime University would be extended all privileges accorded to other Federal Universities.
Akande recalled that the University began operations in 2017 and, in Nov. 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in national dailies.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari also approved an increase in the take-off grant to the University from the N2 billion earlier announced to N5 billion.
He said the grant was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in Nov. 2017.
He added that another N1billion was approved by the President to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the University.
“Under the New Vision for the Niger Delta, which followed the President’s meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) in Nov. 2016, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities.
“The take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government,’’ Akande said.
The Federal Government may have so far invested more than ?6 billion to develop infrastructure at the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.
In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the university from the ?2 billion earlier announced to ?5 billion.
This sum was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017.
Similarly, an additional ?1 billion was approved by the president to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the university.
Meanwhile, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Ikenwole met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Friday on the University.
The visit, according to sources within the Presidency may not be unconnected with the clash of interest regarding the Itsekiri of Ugborodo and Ijaw over the proposed Maritime University and the status of Ugborodo community in Warri Kingdom.
The monarch arrived at the villa at 10:55am from where he was ushered into the President’s office.
He was accompanied by some senior chiefs from Itsekiri kingdom, including the immediate past governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan.
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