Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has laid the foundation for the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) at the University of Lagos. The IMS is being funded by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
During the event which commenced at the UniLag Senate Chamber before a subsequent move to the project site, the Minister commended the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration saying that the project demonstrated his commitment towards capacity building and infrastructure development.
Engr. Sambo also expressed gratitude to the successive managements of the University of Lagos for the sustenance of the institution’s enviable reputation, describing the university as a national pride.
The Minister expressed commitment towards speedy completion of the building, even as he added that he was satisfied with the contractor handling the project and the thoroughness of the NIMASA DG; Dr Bashir Jamoh.
According to him, when completed, the IMS in Unilag would give new impetus to the development of capacities in the maritime industry especially in the Southwest states.
In his address, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said, in 2014 when the University of Lagos was selected for the IMS project, land was provided to commence the building of the institute but the land was later discovered to be marshy and the project was halted.
“When l assumed office in 2020, l began to study the project again for the chosen Universities and unfortunately because of the non-existence of the budgetary provision, we were unable to continue with the project in the Southwest until 2021, l decided to present the matter before the National Assembly and obtained approval to commence the building of the UniLag Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) to be satisfied that we have done justice to all the six geo-political zones and to ensure the spread of professional Maritime Students all over the country so that one area won’t drag us behind”, he disclosed.
Jamoh also disclosed that, “70 per cent of revenue generated by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) comes from Lagos.”
In her speech, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, recalled with happiness, the immense contributions of UniLag to Maritime Studies in Nigeria, even before 2013 when the idea to establish the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) was moved by NIMASA.
Ogunsola said that UniLag – IMS commenced its programmes with just 2 courses in 2013 and has added four more courses in its relentlessness towards addressing industry’s academic and professional needs.
The Vice Chancellor reiterated commitment towards promoting Industry- Academia collaboration with a view to delivering work- ready graduates all in the spirit of the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of University of Lagos.
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In her words: “We are also poised to lend ourselves to ensuring that Nigeria contributes and also gains optimally from the opportunities which the 21st century knowledge economy provides”.
Highpoint of the event was the formal turning of the sod by the Minister of Transportation, Engineer Mu’azu Jaji Sambo who was accompanied by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene N.Ajani. The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, led other senior staff of the agency to the occasion.
The proposed UniLag- NIMASA Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS) building is sited very close to the UniLag Botanical Garden, it is one of the six sited across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country by NIMASA to provide suitable manpower and professional requirements for the contemporary Maritime industry.
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