Maritime University takes off October —Okowa

AT last, the Federal Government-owned Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Delta State, will commence academic activities in October, according to the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

Speaking at an interactive session with newsmen in Asaba, Okowa said the bill establishing the university would soon be passed into law by the Senate.

He commended the acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who, while on a peace mission earlier to the creek, visited the site of the institution where infrastructural development has reached an advanced stage.

The governor also commended youths for allowing peace to reign in the creek.

Ijaw leaders had hitherto protested when it was alleged that on assumption of office in May 29, 2015, President Mohammadu Buhari jettisoned the project and moved it to Ibusa, near Asaba.

Okowa also disclosed that infrastructural development at three more technical colleges in Kwale, Ogor and Issele Uku had commenced in earnest in order to boost technical education in the state.

Already, work has been completed at the technical colleges in Sapele, Agbor and Ofagbe.

Governor Okowa said that 500 staff of the Delta State Oil-Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) without proper job schedules had been redeployed to teach in various primary schools, and that to improve the standard of teaching, his administration had decided to set up a teachers’ development centre.

According to him, 4000 persons have been trained from various vocational centres in the state, as “we need to find ways to ensure they get tools to establish themselves through the micro credit programme.”