Delta governor promises to support NIMASA’s N50bn NMU

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has promised to collaborate with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in developing the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU).

Okowa made the pledge while receiving a delegation of NIMASA and members of the university’s Governing Council at the Government House, Asaba, recently.

According to him, the N50bn University which is located in Okerenkoko, an Ijaw community, south-west, Delta State, is “a well thought out programme”.

He said his government support the project, adding that citizens of the state will benefit a lot from the university.

“I will ensure that the state government will be in tandem with my view for a rapid development of the university," Okowa said.

"Obviously, a lot of our children will be employed in the construction phase and they will be as well admitted when the programmes begin.

“We ought to have started much earlier but it is not too late.

"I will like to urge Nigerians in various positions to think outside the box as the NIMASA DG had done."

The governor added that Nigeria needs more "institutions that will give practical [training]" to students like NMU.

"At this development level, Nigeria needs more of practical institutions, rather than the conventional ones that are everywhere now."

Earlier on, the NIMASA Director General, Ziakede P. Akpobolokemi, said the federal government had approved a budget of N50 billion for the building and development of the institution.