A group known as Oron Youth Movement (OYOM), has encouraged President Bola Tinubu to expedite the upgrade of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron into a university in line with the University of Maritime Studies Oron (Establishment ) Act 2022.
The Oron group made this appeal in a letter signed by its National President, Comrade Edet Eyo, and six other executive members, stressing that the new Act has provided the requisite legal framework for the upgrade more than two years ago.
OYOM observed that the Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron established, first as Nautical College since 1977, 48 years ago, did not properly fulfil the objectives for which it was established as Nigeria, despite its status as a top maritime nation, still trains almost all levels of its maritime personnel in foreign institutions at huge cost to the nation’s economy.
It stated that this challenge in developing adequate human capital for the maritime sector led to the push for the upgrade of MAN Oron to the University of Maritime Studies, to properly serve the manpower and technological needs of the nation.
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Part of the letter read; “Nigeria is a country governed by the Rule of Law. The University of Maritime Studies Oron (Establishment ) Act 2022 is a Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. People in leadership positions responsible for implementing the Act must not act in a way that could be interpreted as they are flouting the Act. This could be dangerous as citizens interpreting their actions could lose their respect for the Rule of Law in Nigeria.
“On behalf of the people of Oron Nation and indeed Akwa Ibom people, we in OYOM hereby passionately appeal to the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that in the interest of justice and the Rule of Law, direct the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to take immediate actions to ensure that the provisions of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, (Establishment) Act 2022, are accordingly implemented.”
According to the group, an upgrade in the academic institution would bring to an end the rigmarole tactics of appointments into the legally non-existing MAN, tending to delay the immediate commencement of the university.
OYOM equally appealed to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who as Akwa-Ibom State Governor in 2010 committed the resources of the State to acquire additional acreage of land and upgrade Infrastructures in the defunct MAN to meet the requirements of NUC, to intervene to ensure the speedy take-off of the University of Maritime Studies Oron.
“Specifically, we appeal that Mr President should speedily appoint a Vice Chancellor and constitute a proper Governing Council for the speedy and effective take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, having been established by a legally binding university Act 2022.
“Finally, we strongly advise Dr. Kelvin Okonna, the “Acting Rector” to tread with caution and not further embark on actions that could be seen as undermining the implementation of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, (Establishment) Act 2022,” he said.
