Education
Enforce Cabotage Act, Don Tells NIMASA
An expert in the martime industry, Professor Kelvin D. H. Bob-Manuel, has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to properly enforce the Cabotage Act in order to optimise the benefits accruable to Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Professor Bom-Manuel, who gave this charge midweek as part of recommendations in his inaugural lecture, said this will be to the advantage of indigenous maritime operators.
“NIMASA should properly enforce the cabotage Act and drastically limit the wavers that are given to foreign vessels to operate in our territorial waters.
“This will enable our indigenous ship-owners and operators reap the benefit of Cabotage and increase replacement of cadets and other graduates on board Nigeria registered vessels to gain seas experience. This measure will minimize the skills gap in the maritime industry”, he said.
Professor Bob-manul’s topic, titled “Technological Advances in maritime Transportation and Engineering Impact on the Global and Nigerian Economy”, also recommended that the current monitoring policy on acquisition should be received to favour indigenous operators.
Beyond this, he recommended that Nigeria needs to invest in both building / ship repair dockyard, as well as “vigorously enforce the Nigeria content policy in ship / boat building and repairs in the country”.
In addition, the professor of Maritime Engineering (Ship Power Plant) continued, the collaboration between maritime training institutions and industries in research should be intensified to enable the Nation meet challenges of current and future technology.
He stated further that mitigation for maritime safely, prevention and control of environmental pollution in Nigeria’s territorial waters should include frequent safety orientation to boat operators.
According to him, monitoring and strict enforcement of material and domesticated International Maritime Organization by the appropriate government body should also be included.
The Carbotage Act, professor Bobmanuel said, spelt out four major condition upon which it’s implementation must be applied.
The are: that carbotage vessels must be wholly owned by Nigerians; be registered in Nigeria, manned by Nigerian crews; and that Nigeria ship yards must build and repair carbotage vessels.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Ag Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Professor Blessing Chimeze Didia extolled the achievements of the inaugural lectures as the first professor of Marine Engineering in West Africa/ South of the Sahara.
He used the opportunity to charge students and lectures alike to strive to also excel in their chosen areas of endearvour.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.