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Speedily assent law establishing the varsity-Monarch
House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, led by its Chairman, Honourable Muhammed Bago, yesterday paid an oversight visit to the Nigerian Maritime University take-off campus Kurutie and the Okerenkoko permanent site in order to ascertained the level of work done before passing the university into law.
While sighting the take-off campus at Kurutie, Hon. Bago expressed satisfaction at level of work done, admitting that the university is a world class, adding that the school structure is second to none in the country.
He said the school was ready for a take-off with the physical structure hence it must commence academic activities this year.
“This is beautiful. These structures are world class and I am not sure if there is any university with this kind of structures. I am impressed with what I am seeing, and so this university must take-off even if it is 100 students”, Hon. Bago declared.
Hon. Bago who promised House of Representatives would put modalities and laws in place for the smooth take-off of the institution, refuted the claim in some quarters that the area was not safe for a university.
According to him, if the area was not safe as claimed, him and other Honourable Members wouldn’t have paid visit, stressing that it was a fallacy to say the area was not safe for a university.
He said, “We have come to see for ourselves and we have discovered claim that the school site is not safe for a university was a fallacy. Here we are moving freely, if the place is not safe as claimed I believe we would not have been here”.
Earlier at the palace of Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom the House Committee Chairman had thanked the people of Gbaramatu for the hospitality and warm reception done him and other members, promising that the event would be a lasting memory to him and other members.
He said he has been educated coming down to the creeks, adding that his coming has made him understand the plights of the people in the area.
Hon. Bago promised to conduct a a public hearing on the institution August 19 this year after which according to him the House would pass it into law.
He said it was unfortunate that some set of persons want the university yet they want the name to be changed from Okerenkoko.
Hon. Bago added that the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko would be pass into law and commence academic activities, stressing that there after any group who wants the university can work out modalities for a campus of the university in their domain.
While welcoming Hon. Bago and his team to the take-off campus, Kurutie, Vice Chancellor of the university, … Thanked Bago and his team for the oversight visit, declaring that the school was fully ready to kick-off with 3 faculties but was shut of funds.
According to her, twenty five courses have been designed to make up the 3 faculties, which according to her are purposely designed to address the marine needs of the country and environmental challenge of the Niger Delta.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro Gbaran II, appreciated the role of the government in the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.
The Pere speech, which was read by Chief Godspower Gbenekama, lamented that Gbaramatu plays host to 8 flow stations yet no government presence by way of development.
The Pere who said virtually all projects in the kingdom are from individuals pleaded to the Honourable Members to speedily give ascent to the bill establishing the university in order to pave way for academic activities in the school this year.
He also called on the government to mobilize contractors to site with adequate funds in order for them to complete work at the permanent site of the university.
The House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration was warmly received by Gbaramatu Traditional Council of Chiefs and women of the kingdom.
Hon. Members who were on the oversight visit were, Hon. Muhammed Bago, Chairman; Hon. Solomon Adaelu, Deputy Chairman; Hon. Daniel Reyenieju, Warri Federal Constituency Delta State; Hon. Boma Goodhead, Akoko-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal Constituency, Rivers State; Hon. Barrister Evelyn Oboro, Okpe Federal Constituency, Delta State; Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, Ukwa East/ West Federal, Abia State; Hon. Muhammed Golololo, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power; Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, Ughelli/Federal Constituency, Delta State; Hon. Abubakah Sarki Dahiru, Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, Nasarawa State.
Others include, Hon. Duri Douye, Yenagoa/ Kolomuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State; Bobelle Bashir, Ungogo/Ninjibir Federal Constituency, Kano State; Hon. Agbedi Frederick, Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State; Hon. Kolade Akinjo, Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Hon. Julius Pondi, Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State; Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, Ogbomoso Federal Constituency, Oyo State, and Hon. Randolph Brown, Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency, Rivers State.
Officials of NIMSA and professor Tosan Harriman were also part of the visit.
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