President Muhammadu Buhari has been praised by a coalition of civil Societies in Akwa Ibom State over the renewal of the tenure of the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN)Oron, Chief Joshua Okpo, for another four year term. The Group which go by the name ‘The civil societies of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom state chapter’, hail the President for the reappointment saying it is a celebration of the uncommon performance of the Rector during his first tenure which brought about sustainable infrastructural and academic development in the institution.
A release made available to Newsmen in Uyo yesterday states that,’ the renaissance and innovative leadership of the Rector for the past four years in the academy have been recognized’.
The release added that, an objective survey, and on the spot facility tour earlier conducted in the academy by the civil societies revealed that, the Rector Chief Joshua Okpo, has successfully galvanized all the stakeholders in the maritime industry towards realizing the visions and the mission of the school.
They noted that, many virgin courses have been introduced into the school curriculum in order to breast up with its contemporaries in the industry internationally. The group noted other achievements of the Rector to include: bridging of the gap between the host communities and the institution, introduction of timely professional and safety courses that has helped broaden the knowledge base of the trainees, advancement of the infrastructure in the academy, training and re-training of staff, as well as fulfillment of corporate social responsibility.
It would be recall that the civil society of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom state chapter had on June 23, 2015, organized a National press briefing in Abuja on the theme: What Nigeria must know about Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron.
Calling on the Federal Government, to amongst others; increase the budget for the Academy in order to enable it meet contemporary demands, allow independent administration of the academy as against the purported call for supervision by the National Universities Commission(NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education, approval of the school to partner other international maritime institutes in the training of the needed manpower for onward transfer of expertise from the experts to the trainees, granting of autonomy to the Academy to issue degrees upon completion of the programme as well as the renewal of the tenure of the Rector, Chief Joshua Okpo, in lieu of the cutting edge and innovative performance in the academy.
The societies expressed satisfaction that some of the prayers of the press briefing organized by the group has been granted especially, the renewal of the tenure of the Rector by the President, While calling on the Federal Government to do well in granting the remaining prayers of the group.
They congratulated the President for listening to the yearnings of the
civil societies and that of the entire Nigerians and pledged their
unalloyed loyalty to his administration.
The group used the medium to appreciate the contributions of NIMASA and other stakeholders in the maritime industry for their roles towards the success of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, and support to the Joshua Okpo administration.