Maritime varsity will grow capacity, create employment’

DELTA State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has declared that the predominance of conventional universities in Nigeria to the detriment of specialized universities is largely responsible for the current unemployment challenge confronting the Nigerian economy.
Receiving the Management of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Governing Council of the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU) during a courtesy visit in Asaba, Governor Okowa stated that specialized universities would provide the right tools to equip graduates with requisite technical abilities that would make them create employment after completing their studies.
“Nigeria should move beyond conventional universities and seek to establish specialized universities which will give the right tools and   practical learning that will make graduates employers of labour, rather than job seekers. The unemployment in Nigeria today is largely due to our focus on conventional education” He stated.
While Commending the Management of NIMASA for the vision in establishing the University, Governor Okowa urged other agencies of government to think outside the box and follow the foot step of NIMASA.
The Director General of NIMASA Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi noted that the agency conceived the University concept to guarantee sustainable international training of qualified manpower for the maritime industry. He said that the dearth of qualified manpower in the Nigerian maritime sector was the driving force behind the University project.
On her part, the Pro Chancellor, Professor Mrs. viola Onwuliri, noted that the University would play a major role in effectively growing adequate capacity to harness the Nigerian maritime potentials.