Rector, Stars Maritime Academy Dr. Reuben Ovai has suggested the need to remove the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron in Akwa Ibom State from direct supervision and funding by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA),saying that the nautical school is overdue to be upgraded into a degree awarding institution.
Ovai made the suggestion last week during an exclusive interview with Shipping Position Daily, even as he reiterated that the funding of MAN Oron by NIMASA is abnormal.
He lamented that it is absurd for any agency of government to fund any school, irrespective of its peculiarity nature.
Although the law establishing MAN Oron stipulates that NIMASA should release at least five percent of its revenue to the academy, but the former naval chief stated that despite the huge disbursement of cash to the school, there are still cases of misappropriation of such funds by officials of the nautical institutions which have hindered its progress.
The rector argued that MAN Oron is supposed to be under the supervision of Ministry of Education and not under the sponsorship of NIMASA, adding that the apex maritime regulatory agency has not aided the institution in terms of development.
"I will advocate that MAN Oron should be allowed to be on its own because there are other federal government specialised institutions that are doing great on their own"
He said funding of the institution through NIMASA is a waste of resources and every government institution can survive despite its peculiarity.
The Rector, who also doubles as the President Association of Licensed Maritime Academies in Nigeria (ALMAN), argued that it is only in Nigeria that an institution gets total support from an agency of government, even as he affirmed that Universities and Polytechnics are still in existence without any ministry or agency’s financial support.
"I am one of the advocates who even want MAN Oron to be under the Ministry of Education, as a Federal Government institute", he said.
Ovai explained that as a specialised in nautical technicalities, there are funds available under the education ministry which the Akwa Ibom based nautical school can access.
According to him, Ghana Maritime Authority has no role to play funding, Regional Maritime Academy in Ghana, pointing out that both organisations are separate bodies on their own.
He said " continuous spoon feeding of MAN Oron by NIMASA is a like a baby being fed for years, but cannot walk".
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