Of MAN Oron’s recent Ministerial scrutiny, reflection on current developments, popular opinions/ expectations

BY JOSEPH ATAINYANG

All arrangements are currently undergoing concluding formalities to confirm that the high hopes of Nigerians in the Niger-Delta, Akwa Ibom State and most espacially the Oron Nation would soon be met as the expantant upgrading of the status of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron to something more profitable seems just a “tick of the second”.

As soon as the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari was said to have approved the ‘almost controversial’ establishment of the Maritime University in Okoronkoku, Delta State, as previously facilitated by the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and that of the Maritime Academy, Oron to a Maritime University (as part of the measures to curb militancy in the oil region, as captured by reports), the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, appointed a 7-Man committee for the restructuring of the institution.
 

Although the ministerial committee has been seen as long overdue, as far as the state of affairs of the school is taken into cognisance, it was seen as also raising tension in some quarters, making it seem as if there were some persons who were directly targeted. Away from this, the absolute sincerity of the committee, headed by competent, well versed and trusted personnel in the maritime sector was also to be expected.

The Chairman of the committee, Chief Adebayo Sarumi during the first and second visit to the Academy, in which major decisions were taken, emphasised the need to hold on to the dreams of the founding fathers of the Academy, and ensure that it becomes reality.

Concerning the mandate of the Committee, Sarumi hinted that the main objectives of the Committee included advising the Federal Government on the repositioning of the Academy to enable it attain optimal training capacity; recommend appropriate measures to be taken by the Federal Government to upgrade the Academy to a world class institution and maintain the standard of training and certification that would effectively serve both the local and international needs of the maritime industry.

He praised the ingenuity of the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi at constituting the technical committee and therefore called on the Management of the institution to put forward a position paper reflecting the technical and administrative challenges of the institution. Chief Sarumi also called for the shunning of all dispassionate and primordial tendencies by all parties, for the betterment of the institution and the nation’s maritime sector.

On his part, the Acting Rector, Pastor Mkpandiok Mkpandiok had intimated the Committee on his administration’s efforts towards tackling some of the institution’s problems since he assumed office in acting capacity, while stating the major challenges militating against the development of the Academy to include lack of Sea Berths for Cadets’ Sea-Time Experience, inadequate funding in securing and sustaining qualified professionals and lack of relevant educational facilities for the training of Cadets.

The Ag. Rector appealed to the Committee to use their good position to impress on Non-governmental and Governmental Agencies,  other maritime organisations to help the Academy in form of donations, and pleaded the Federal Government to formulate policies that would encourage Shipping companies operating in the territorial waters of the country to accept Cadets on-board their vessels.

Again, emerging indications overflog the information space as to why Vice President Yemi Osinbajo overruled the Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi on the need to continue with the process of building and completing the controversial Nigeria Maritime University, sited in Gbaramatu, Delta State, which in face value, seem completely militating against the fortunes of upgrading the premier Maritime institution in Oron to either a full-fledge Maritime University or to a Degree awarding institution.

A conrete research shows that this came as a result of President Buhari’s determination to bring calmness to the Niger Delta region, as he was very well briefed by the Minister for Niger Delta, Ibe Kachiku. The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh, who in a recent report, was seen  commending Buhari for the gesture, said the President also directed that everything be done to ensure that the Nigeria Maritime University commenced operations in the 2017/2018 academic year.

Boroh whose comments were contained in a message sent to Journalists, by the Media and Communication Consultant of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Owei Lakemfa, same week the Vice President concluded his Town Hall tour of the region, called on the National Assembly to pass the Nigeria Maritime University Bill, to ensure that the scheduled date for the take-off of the University was met.

Of course, it could be recalled, that the bill had passed Second Reading, as was sponsored by Senators Nelson Effiong (Akwa Ibom South), and James Manager (Delta South), respectively. Effiong’s Bill seeks to upgrade the existing Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron to a University, while that of Manager seeks to establish a Maritime University in Okerenkoko.

Similarly, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Akwa Ibom State government were among critical stakeholders that continued to express their support for the establishment of two maritime universities for the country. NIMASA in a statement by its Head, Corporate Communication, Mr. Isichie Osamgbi, few weeks back, denied a press statement by the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), which insinuated that the agency was opposed to the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State.

Also, the Akwa Ibom State government and the Host Communities of MAN, Oron, had during a Public Hearing held by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND penultimate week, maintained that they were anxiously looking forward to the establishment of the two maritime universities. This came as the President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki who was represented at the public hearing by the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, said that the 8th Senate was committed to ensuring speedy passage of the two bills for the establishment of the Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State and the Maritime University of Nigeria, Okerenkoko, Delta State; to further boost the nation’s capacity to exploit its maritime potentials.

Saraki noted that the NIMASA has revealed that Nigeria needs about 29,000 seafarers to achieve her current local industry capacity needs, saying, “The Nigeria Senate is sensitive to the social and economic plight of the people of the Niger Delta region, and determined to address these challenges through meaningful developmental projects, hence the 8th Senate is committed to ensuring passage of the bills for the establishments of the two maritime universities to assuage some of the problems in the area”.

As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, Senator Barau Jibrin noted, “The committee will make sure that the two maritime universities are fully established with an enabling law.” He said his colleagues who sponsored the two bills, Senator James Manager for the Okerekoko University and Senator Nelson Effiong for MAN, Oron have carried out intensive legislative lobbying to persuade their colleagues to support these bills as such his committee called for the public hearing to get more inputs for the two bills to be passed into law.

However, speaking on the bill for an Act for the establishment of Maritime University of Nigeria Oron, former Senator Anietie Okon said that the proposed name for MAN, Oron was Federal University of Maritime Studies, Oron and not Maritime University of Nigeria, Oron as proposed in the bill. He also said that if smaller countries like Phillipines, Korea, Singapore, etc. with lower populations could have more Maritime Institutions, then Nigeria with over 180 million people needs more maritime universities. Also contributing, the president of MAN, Oron Alumni Association, Mr. Austin Umezurike advised that it is better for MAN, Oron to be upgraded into a degree awarding institution, so as not to loss the professional aspect of maritime training as enshrined in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Merchant Navy Act, which provides for professional training offered by the Academy.

Accordingly, Governor Udom Emmanuel, during the Town Hall addressed by the Vice President in Akwa Ibom State, aptly adopted the demands made by Chief Essien Ndueso, former Minister for Lands and Housing; and Otuekong Idonesit Nkanga, former Military Governor of the State, that Akwa Ibom State was demanding among others, that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron be upgraded to a degree awarding institution, as well as the completion of the East-West Road.

To the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR), it is important to upgrade the institution to a degree awarding institution. A position paper submitted by the royal fathers during the ministerial committee’s visit reads thus in parts. “Our plea to this committee and other relevant authorities is that Oro people are once again united in the support for the demand of the conversion of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron into the University/Degree awarding institution. This will bring the Academy at par with with its counterparts in Ghana/Egypy which are already serving as further training centres for the Academy’s Cadets.”

Meanwhile, the Oron Union President General, Dr. Effiong Edunam said the Union was in full support of the Maritime University Bill currently being considered by the Senate as sponsored by the distinguished Senator Nelson Effiong. He believes that the Maritime University shall be of greater benefit to the generality of Nigerian populace. However, on the argument that the Maritime University may rob the institution the professional know-how of effectively training Marine experts as originally envisaged at the time of the Academy’s establishment, the PG said government should begin to show commitment in providing the necessary facilities so that such professional fitness could still be accommodated in the proposed Maritime University.

Just in the same way, the immediate past President General of Oron Union, Engr (Chief) Asuquo Inuikim Obon opins that two options were available for choice. According to him, it is either the option of Maritime University was considered, or that of simply upgrading the existing Maritime Academy to a Degree awarding institution. Here, he warns that care must be taken so as not to negatively influence the funding system of the school. In his observation, if it is awarded a university status, it would likely be funded by the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) which makes it stand the risk of poor funding as obtainable in the conventional university funding system by the same commission.

The PG emeritus warns that stakeholders must know what they want so that the principal purpose of Maritime education would not be defeated. He prefers a situation where the Academy retains its funding system with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stressing that just as the Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Owerri was Degree awarding, as a College, the upgrade of the existing Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron to a Degree awarding institution would better make it escape the danger of poor funding, while still being able to award Degrees to its trainees.

On her own, the Oron Youth Movement (OYOM) whose imput was sent through its Secretary General, Comrade Eyo Eyo has this to say. “OYOM’s position on the proposed Maritime University remains stackly unchanged and sacrosanct. We have written various letters to the Minister of Transportation in Abuja, the Senate, and the Presidency on the above subject matter and we got replies conveying their assurances. We therefore, urge you to discountenance any perverted or purportedly sponsored impersonations which may have a different stance from this.”

The question is, which of these available alternatives has more potential benefits to offer both members of the host community who sacrifised a lot in terms of “almost excessive donation of lands”, without due compensation, for the expansion and upgrade of the Academy and the generality of the Nigerian populace?

This is when Edwin Ebieme, an Oro-born scholar currently doing his Doctorate research in the University of Uyo has something to say. “Maritime University is what we have been anticipating for a long time. But, we should not only concentrate with Maritime curriculum which mostly embraces the Marine Engineering Faculty, we should rather stretch for the expansion of the curriculum so that conventional courses could be run for the people of the area to also go in and study. Maritime University should only apply by name, but the curriculum should be open to accommodate universal courses for the betterment of all.”

Considering the mission of the committee which includes advising the Federal Government on the repositioning of the Academy to enable it attain optimal training capacity; recommending appropriate measures to be taken by the Federal Government to upgrade the Academy to a world class institution and maintaining the standard of training and certification that would effectively serve both the local and international needs of the maritime industry, one then sees that the Federal Government of Nigeria actually mean well for the institution.

Meanwhile, the Acting Rector, Pastor Mkpandiok Mkpandiok had decried the lack of Sea Berths for Cadets’ Sea-Time Experience, inadequate funding in securing and sustaining qualified professionals and lack of relevant educational facilities for the training of Cadets. He also had appealed to the Ministerial Committee to use their good position to impress on Non-governmental and Governmental Agencies, other maritime organisations to help the Academy in form of donations, impressing on the Federal Government to formulate policies that would encourage Shipping companies operating in the territorial waters of the country to accept Cadets on-board their vessels.

All these put side by side, and painstakingly perused together with the Bill currently being considered by the Senate, show that, in a matter of days or weeks, an official statement will be made and the fortunes of MAN Oron shall be all-encompassing in changing for the better.