Private Maritime Academy Blast NIMASA Over New University, Says DG NIMASA Over Ambitious

Privately-owned maritime institution; Stars Maritime Academy has lampooned the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the establishment of Nigerian's first maritime university.
Rector of the academy; Dr. Reuben Ovai in a chat with Shipping Position Daily last week noted that the move by the agency to float a government-owned maritime institution is politically motivated.
According to him, the Director General of NIMASA; Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi is playing a script to please some interest group.

Privately-owned maritime institution; Stars Maritime Academy has lampooned the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over the establishment of Nigerian's first maritime university.
Rector of the academy; Dr. Reuben Ovai in a chat with Shipping Position Daily last week noted that the move by the agency to float a government-owned maritime institution is politically motivated.
According to him, the Director General of NIMASA; Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi is playing a script to please some interest group.
He reiterated that the DG’s drive to establish the maritime university in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta state is based on selfish ambition, adding that for Nigeria to bridge the gap in human capacity and dearth of manpower there is need to have a national carrier.
"My opinion about the new maritime university is this- it is either for political motive or to satisfy personal ambition".
The Stars  Maritime Academy   boss argued that the maritime sector at this point in time does not need a university or any other maritime specialised school, because it affect other institutions in the area of growth, citing Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, in Akwa Ibom State and  the School of Fisheries and School of Oceanography  in Victoria Island Lagos.
He noted that until the federal government revamps the national carrier for students with maritime background to get sea time experience, NIMASA will continue to be perceived as a failed agency of government that is supposed to oversee all maritime institutions in Nigeria.
Ovai added that "whether you graduate from maritime university or not, you still need practical to key into the profession and at the moment it is not all about establishing a university, but how to encourage professionalism".
He added that floating a national carrier will further empower students from the school and other government and privately owned maritime academies in Nigeria.