The Maritime University, Okerenkoko in Delta State has commenced lectures for the 2017/2018 academic year with 196 students.
A statement issued in Abuja and signed by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande said the take off of the university is in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to develop the Niger Delta in line with its New Vision for the region.
“A total of 196 students have so far been accepted into the University to commence their academic programmes,” said Akande.
The university was granted approval in January by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence undergraduate degree programmes effective from the 2017/2018 academic session.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) also listed the university in its central admissions processing system in January 24, 2018, while interviews for academic staff positions were conducted March 1-2, 2018.
The NUC had approved that academic activities commence in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management, with a combined total of 13 departments with various specializations – from Marine Engineering, Marine Economics to Climate Change, Fisheries and Aquaculture.
It would be recalled that the president had approved an increase in the take-off grant allocated to the university from the N2 billion earlier announced to N5 billion.
The money was included in the 2018 budget presented to the national assembly in November 2017.
Similarly, an additional N1 billion was approved to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment in the university in November 2017.
Also, following the commencement of operations in 2017, the university had, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff with advert placement in major national dailies.
The Delta State government had also donated two 500KVA generators to the University.
