Sylvester Idowu
House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has decried the ‘underfunding’ of the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The Deputy Chairman of the committee and leader of delegation, Hon. Uduak Alphonsus Odudoh, expressed the concerns yesterday when he led the committee on an oversight function to the university.
He attributed the underfunding of the institution to failure to sign the bill on the establishment of the school to an act by the immediate past administration in the country having been passed by the National Assembly.
Odudoh, however, assured Nigerians that the bill, which has passed the second reading in the National Assembly, would be signed into law to become an Act by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will enable the university to enjoy proper funding to meet its objectives.
He commended Tompolo Foundation for making its facilities available for the initial take-off the Nigeria Maritime University and particularly expressed appreciation of its founder, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, for his passion in seeing to the establishment of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of NMU, Okerenkoko, Professor Emmanuel Munakorogha Adigio, while receiving the delegation to the school campus, enumerated series of challenges bedeviling the institution.
He said the school lacked electricity, road, and other infrastructures to make both the staff and students of the specialised institution comfortable.
While receiving the members of the committee in his palace earlier, the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, Oboro Gbaruan II, urged the National Assembly to urgently passed the bill establishing the university into law.
He expressed happiness that the bill has passed the second reading in the National Assembly, and pleaded that it be signed into an Act when finally passed.
The monarch told the delegation that the kingdom has been peaceful contrary to widespread insinuations in some quarters, adding: “You will experience this as you go to the campus of the institution. You don’t even need security escorts to experience the peaceful nature of our people.”
On the entourage of the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration. Hon. Odudoh, were Hon. Omoleye Abiodun Francis, Hon. Mathew Donatus Kuzalio, and Hon. Abubakar Ahmad Mohammed.
On the side of the Vice Chancellor of NMU, Prof Adigio, to receive the committee members were the Registrar, Dr. Alfred Mulade; Bursar, Dr. Charley Igwe; acting Libarian, Asst. Prof Basil Posigha; Director Academic Planning, Prof Tolumoye Tuaweri, and Head of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Preye Worwei.
