The Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, has called on the Federal Government to upgrade the Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN)in Oron into a degree-awarding institution.
Akpabio made the call recently in Akwa Ibom after receiving President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval for the establishment of a federal polytechnic in Ukana, from the Minister of Education, Honourable Nyesom Wike, at the governor’s office in Uyo.
He explained that the institution awards National Diploma and Higher National Diploma to qualified students.
The governor said his call was hinged on the federal government’s earlier pledge to establish a maritime university in the state.
He also called for the upgrading of the Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, to a degree-awarding institution.
He applauded President Jonathan’s interest in the education sector that had led to the establishment of 10 federal universities in the country and Almajiri schools in the North.
He assured the federal government of the continuous support and prayers of the people of the state towards the administration of President Jonathan.
On the approval given for the establishment of a federal polytechnic in the state, the governor attributed its success to his loyalty to the President.
He said that though he had proposed that the institution be sited at the premises of the state polytechnic, but had to take it to a neutral ground to avoid losing the state institution as it happened to the defunct University of Cross River State when University of Uyo was sited there.
He said: “Our state is a state on the right track in the educational sector. Already, we have introduced the free and compulsory education in the state for the benefit of all the children in the state, and the Federal Polytechnic in the state is a welcome development.”
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