Akpabio Reassures Oron Leaders on Upgrade of Maritime Academy to University Status

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has given firm assurance to leaders of Oron Nation that their concerns over the upgrade of the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to a full-fledged University of Maritime Studies will be swiftly addressed in line with the already passed and gazetted law.

Akpabio made the pledge when he received select leaders of thought from Oron Nation during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja. The delegation was in the capital for further consultations following an earlier meeting during which they requested more time to deliberate widely before taking a position.

A statement issued by Anietie Ekong, Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the Senate President, quoted Akpabio as noting that the Nigerian Maritime Academy had already been granted university status by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and had been duly gazetted.

He, however, explained that concerns had arisen on whether to retain the institution as an academy and empower it to award degrees—similar to the Nigerian Defence Academy—while preserving its current funding sources from bodies such as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), or to transform it into a full Maritime University supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education.

“That was why I sent the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South and the Member representing Oron Federal Constituency to consult with you, weigh the options, and report back,” Akpabio said.

He added: “You have stated tonight your preference for a Maritime University, and I will convey your decision to the two Ministers concerned so they can meet, resolve the matter, and enable the constitution of a governing council, appointment of a Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers, and the eventual take-off of the institution.”

The Member representing Oron Federal Constituency, Hon. Martins Esin, recalled that during Akpabio’s tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, over 100 hectares of land were acquired to support the planned upgrade of the Maritime Academy to a university.

Esin noted that due to the complexity of the issue, he convened a meeting with Oron leaders, followed by an expanded consultation with other Akwa Ibom stakeholders, during which there was unanimous agreement that the academy should be upgraded to a full-fledged university.

According to him, stakeholders are united in demanding that the governing council of the University of Maritime Studies be constituted and that a Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers be appointed to allow academic activities to commence.

Elder statesman Chief Okon Osung, also speaking at the meeting, praised Akpabio as a dependable ally of Oron Nation, recalling how he facilitated the appointment of two ministers from the area within four years.

Chief Osung further highlighted Akpabio’s role as Governor in securing oil-producing status for the five Local Government Areas in Oron and in appointing natives of the area to key positions, including the current NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Hon. Victor Antai, and a former Sole Administrator of the Commission.

Reiterating the consensus of Oron stakeholders, he appealed to the Senate President to conclude the process by ensuring the appointment of the governing council and principal officers of the proposed University of Maritime Studies.

Others present at the meeting included the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South, Senator Ekong Sampson, and the Member representing Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Hon. Patrick Umoh, among others.