By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
Delta Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to develop the permanent site of the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.
Okowa made the call while playing host to the Chairman and members of Governing Council of the university who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.
According to him, the call had become necessary as it would go a long way in putting the university on a sound footing that would ultimately enable it deliver on its core mandate of imparting sound maritime related education on its students.
The governor disclosed that he was happy that the institution took off academic activities at the temporary site but urged the federal government to make resources available for the construction of buildings and provision of amenities that would enhance academic activities in the university.
He said that his administration would do everything humanly possible to make the institution stand out, emphasising that the birth of the special educational institution for the training of manpower in the maritime sector has strengthened peace and the economy of riverine communities.
Governor Okowa, therefore, advocated the need for more projects to be sited in riverine areas because of the inputs of riverine areas to the economy of the nation, stressing that the giant strides of his administration in the creeks and other riverine communities was to give them (residents in the areas) a sense of belonging by carrying them along in the scheme of things.
On the various requests made by the Governing Council of the university, the governor said that they would be looked into with a view to addressing some of them within the limit of available resources.
“We thank God that the Maritime University has started even when we have challenges because we do know that the take-off of the university actually brought good news to our people and actually helped us to build peace particularly in our riverine areas.
“So, we are very glad; we do understand the challenges that still exist and we hope that working together, we can continue to find ways to surmount the challenges”.
