The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted approval to Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.
The Presidency made this known on Twitter on [email protected], stating that the approval was in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s new vision to develop Niger Delta.
Under the Niger Delta New Vision which followed the President’s meeting with leaders of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Nov 2016, Vice President Osinbajo was delegated to undertake a tour of oil producing communities and the take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled.
The NUC approved that academic activities commence in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management. The Faculty of Transport has four departments, namely: Nautical Science, Transport Logistics Management, Marine Economics and Finance, and Port Managementt
The Faculty of Engineering has five departments—Marine Eng., Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Eng and Petroleum & Gas Engineering, andthe Faculty of Environmental Management has four departments: Environmental Management & Pollution, Meteorology & Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture, & Marine Geology.
The Presidency disclosed that the Maritime University will be extended all privileges accorded to other Federal Universities. It would be recalled that the University commenced operations in 2017 and, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in major national dailies.
It added that President Buhari also approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the University from the N2bn earlier announced to N5bn. This sum was included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly in November 2017.
Similarly, an additional N1billion was approved by the President to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the University.
