The Presidency has directed the Ministry of Education to resume activities towards opening the maritime university sited in the Niger Delta before the end of the year as demanded by stakeholders in the region.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said this in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, this would be coordinated by a five-man inter-agency committee headed by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
Akande said the committee; comprising the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Office of the Deputy Governor of Delta State; would collaborate with the principal officers and the governing council of the institution.
He added that there were plans by the Presidency to conclude the fact-finding tours to the Niger Delta with visits by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Cross River and Ondo States.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday told State House correspondents that the controversial university would kick off in October 2017.
He said, “We are also aware that a committee has been set up led by the Minister of Education; my deputy is part of the committee to work out the processes to enable the maritime university take off in October.
“It is a step in the right direction. So, I came to appreciate the vice president and to discuss some other issues with him.”
Okowa commended Osinbajo, whom he said had ensured peace in Delta in particular.
“If you notice, in the past few months, there has been peace in Delta State. So, I wanted to appreciate his visit to Delta State because that definitely helped us in the peace process.
“And just yesterday (Thursday), the Bill for the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, passed third reading at the Senate. That is definitely a very strong plus for us,” the governor added.
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