Stalling a Dream: Inside Struggles of University of Maritime Studies, Oron (3)

Like an epic adventure, this report trails history and establishes how timelines in over two decades drove the transition of the erstwhile Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron into a university. With over 10 years of successive legislative efforts, the victory song was nearly retained after the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (Establishment) Act, 2022, came alive. With failures on the part of government to implement its own laws, the UMSO vision now blurs, raising dust on why legitimate authorities are incapable of executing its own policies. JOSEPH ATAINYANG in this part, chronicles the enduring community engagement and advocacies in favour of UMSO

A phase of resilient engagement, advocacy
As stated in the concluding section of Part 2, a letter of request by Oro stakeholders to the Senate President, Dr Godswill Akpabio, dated 30 June, 2025, became the only saving grace for UMSO’s survival as it halted UMSO’s planned abrogation. This was followed by a formal visit to the President of the Senate by the same group of stakeholders from Oro Nation under the auspices of Oro Stakeholders’ Forum for the Actualisation of UMSO.

The meeting which first took place on Tuesday, 1st July, 2025, was attended by Sir Asuquo Iniukim, Prince Utin Ntofon and Chief Benedict Ukpong. Others in the meeting included the senator representing Akwa Ibom South, Senator Ekong Sampson; the Member, Oron Federal Constituency, Mr Martins Esin and the Member, Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency, Dr. Patrick Umoh. In that meeting at the office of the President of the Senate, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who expressed delight in receiving the delegation, he also expressed concerns on a fresh position by some stakeholders from the host community whom he said were advocating for the upgrade of the school to a degree awarding institution.

Other concerns were on how the newly upgraded Maritime university would sustain its funding from NIMASA, enjoy a focused professional training, due to dual supervision by both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy, train middle level man power and maintain enlistment in the White List of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

A reaction to these concerns later submitted to the President of the Senate and still dated 1st July, 2025, cited the various sections of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (Establishment) Act, 2022, indeed proving that all concerns raised by the Senate President were captured.

The reaction listed five of such universities in Nigeria with dual supervision but without losing their core strength and specialised statuses. Some of the institutions are: the Nigerian Army University jointly supervised by both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Defence, as well as the Federal University of Petroleum Resources jointly supervised by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum.

Endorsed by Sir Asuquo Inuikim, Prince Okung Ntofon, Chief Benedict Ukpong and Arc Otu Ita Toyo, the paper also listed 12 examples of specialised maritime institutions across the globe, which actually retain their specialised nature without having the nomenclature “specialised” engraved in their creation. Some examples listed are: Regional Maritime University, Ghana (1958); Korea Maritime and Ocean University (1945); University of Tasmania, Australia (1978); Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China (1909); among others.

To further solidify the stance of the host community, and based on the advisory of the President of the Senate that the host community should gather and decide on their priority, whether they needed a University of Maritime Studies Oron or an upgrade of MAN Oron to a degree awarding institution, a stakeholders meeting of who-is-who in Oro Nation was called on Sunday, 13 July, 2025.

Those in attendance were all political office holders in Oro Nation (past and present), including all National Assembly members, State House of Assembly members, council chairmen, commissioners and special advisers to the governor, members of Oron Union executives led by the President-General, members of the Union’s Board of Trustees, members of the Council of Oro Traditional Rulers (COTR) led by the paramount rulers of the five LGAs, including the Supreme monarch and paramount ruler of Okobo, His Eminence Ahta Ita Edet Okokon, Ahta Oro VIII. Others were representatives of the various youth groups, women groups and associations in Oro Nation.

The 10-point communiqué endorsed by stakeholders at the meeting, thanked all authorities and persons who contributed to the promulgation of the UMSO Act and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint principal officers to ensure the takeoff of the University.

While Paragraph 6 appealed to Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to use his good offices and engage with President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to fast-track the commencement of academic activities at the university, Paragraphs 5 and 7 read thus:

“The Stakeholders hereby appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON; and other relevant authorities to facilitate the take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron. This includes the constitution of a governing council, appointment of vice chancellor and other principal officers to enable the commencement of academic activities.

“The stakeholders recognised that the UMSO Establishment Act, 2022, includes key funding provisions (Section 9), and requested that the university’s funding begin with the 2026 federal budget following a take-off grant. We also provide the dual oversight provided for in Section 1 (4), which places the institution as a specialised university under the supervision of both the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy,”

The content of the 10-point communiqué was also communicated as an attachment to the President of the Senate through a letter equally dated 13 July, 2025.

Meanwhile, some key stakeholders of Akwa Ibom State also met on Monday, 14 July, 2025 to seal the position of Oro Nation on the matter. The meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, and witnessed by the former vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Akpan Morgan Ekpo; Ambassador Assam Assam, and many others, resolved to appeal to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, to intervene in getting justice for the state. Following the resolutions, the Akwa Ibom State deputy governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, officially communicated the position to the governor.

Again, another stakeholders’ meeting of Oro Nation was held on Sunday, 22 March, 2026. Records reveal that all categories of those at the meeting of 13 July, 2025, attended this engagement. Those who spoke at the meeting included Sir Asuquo Inuikim, Rep Martins Esin, Efiong Akwa Esq, Senator Nelson Effiong, Rt Hon. Esio Oquong Udoh, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Chief Effiong Afiakurue, Ahta Ita Edet Okokon, Ahta Oro VIII, among many others. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting showed a total affirmation of the decisions reached at the meeting of 13 July, 2025, but with a renewed call for urgent take-off of academic activities at UMSO.

Similarly, and much earlier on Friday, 19 January, 2024, the entirety of all stakeholders from Oro Nation (the third largest ethnic nationality in Akwa Ibom State from the five local government areas of Okobo, Oron, Udung Uko, Mbo and Urueoffong/Oruko), had tabled the same request before the Senate President. A widely published report has it that Oro stakeholders were at the country home of Senator Akpabio to express collective appreciation to him for the appointment of Sir Victor Antai as Executive Director, Project in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). At that meeting, the President-General of Oron Union, Sir Essang Nsa Bassey delivered a touching address before Senator Akpabio and his colleague senators who also graced the event.

“The President-General solicited the intervention of Senator Akpabio in the appointment of vice chancellor and constitution of governing board for the University of Maritime Studies, Oron; completion of Section V of the East-West Road; implementation of the Ibaka Deep Seaport; extension of coastal roads to Akwa Ibom State; reconstruction of Trunk A road from Aba, Ikot Ekpene through Uyo to the Oron Beach; and a return to the tripodal basis of sharing political offices in the state”, the WatchmanPost report said.

The above chronicles implies that as a people, who are the core host community to the University of Maritime Studies Oron, the Oro Nation, has made at least three official appearances before Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the matter: once at his Ukana country home and twice at his office in the Senate.

From passionate advocacy to tenacious agitation

Although the idea to upgrade MAN, Oron to a university had been an age-long dream of the federal government, confusion arrived from the blues and threw a wrench in the works. A law that was berthed after 10 years of legislative action, suddenly developed cold feet, breaking down in fragments. This stunt astonished the host community and they decided to take their destinies in their hands. Groups like Oron Union, Oro Stakeholders’ Forum for the Actualisation of UMSO, Oro Youth Movement, Oro Renewal Group, among others, have severally risen to the occasion, condemning the delay in the take-off of UMSO and calling on Nigerian authorities to do the needful.

On 8 November, 2025, Oron Union addressed a World Press Conference on the matter. A central issue raised during the event held at the Oron Civic Centre, was the prolonged delay in implementing the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (Establishment) Act, 2022. Condemning the attempt to repeal the UMSO Act at the Senate, the Union expressed frustration that the former Maritime Academy continues to operate under its old identity, while the university remains without a vice chancellor and other principal officers.

The event which was addressed by the Presisent-General, Sir Esang Nsa Bassey, questioned the role of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, NIMASA and other authorities in the delay. The Union argued that continued admissions and certification under the defunct Academy could create uncertainty for students. “UMSO is not a favour to Oro; it is a legal right that the government must fulfil”, the Union said.

On their part, the Oro Stakeholders’ Forum for the Actualisation of UMSO has made four public statements between April and August 2026. In April, a news report syndicated across major national dailies and State-based Newspapers, faulted a statement attributed to the governing council chairman of MAN Oron, Engr Kehinde Akinola. In a statement, Prof Emmanuel Onwioduokit said the transition from MAN Oron to UMSO would significantly boost Nigeria’s economy and strengthen its position in the global maritime sector.

He pointed out that global best practices show that maritime universities successfully combine academic programmes with professional seafarer training. The former commissioner for Economic Development in Akwa Ibom State explained that countries with advanced maritime systems operate hybrid institutions that integrate degree programmes with industry-standard training, resulting in stronger capacity, improved global relevance, and expanded opportunities for cadets and researchers.

In a report by ThisDay dated 13 April, 2026, Prof Onwioduokit said,
“The present framework cannot fully support degree expansion, attract major research funding, or sustain advanced postgraduate programmes. A university structure unlocks these opportunities and enables global partnerships.” He added that the institution would serve as a catalyst for Nigeria’s blue economy by producing skilled professionals across key areas such as shipping, marine engineering, logistics, and maritime security.

Later on Monday, 18 May, 2026, the Oro Stakeholders’ Forum (OSF) for the Actualisation of UMSO addressed a press conference in Abuja. The press text read by Prof Emmanuel Onwioduokit, entitled, “A Call for Immediate Operationalisation of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron”, was also endorsed by Sir Asuquo Inuikim Obon, Print Utin Ntofon and Chief Benedict Ukpong.

Tracing the history of the struggle for UMSO from the various statements by the federal government, to the legislative processes, as well as assent by the president, the stakeholders wondered why there has been no appointment of a vice chancellor and principal officers, constitution of governing structures, and commencement of academic activities almost four years after the Act was berthed.

“We are deeply concerned that despite: engagements with the National Universities Commission, consultations with relevant ministries, stakeholder mobilization efforts, and invitations extended to the university representatives during the 2025/2026 admission consultations by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the institution remains dormant. At a time when nations are investing heavily in maritime capacity development, Nigeria cannot afford institutional delays of this magnitude”, OSF said.

Again, on 19 August, 2026, the Oro Stakeholders’ Forum (OSF) for the Actualisation of UMSO, in a statement, urged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute government officials allegedly “aiding the fraudulent operation of an illegal institution in Akwa Ibom State.” The Forum said powerful individuals frustrating the take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO) deserve scrutiny, in line with the ongoing probe of the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).

According to Vanguard report, “The position paper jointly endorsed by the Forum’s chairman, Sir Asuquo Inuikim Obon and the Secretary, Prince Utin Ntofon, said UMSO was established under the 2022 Act, which repealed the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and provided for a full transition into a university system.”

The forum demanded answers from key institutions, asking pointedly: “What has the Education Ministry done? What is NIMASA’s role? Why are governing structures not in place? Who is authorising expenditure under a repealed academy law?” OSF also flagged what it called a “legal contradiction” in the continued funding of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria despite its repeal under the UMSO Act.

On that same day, the forum’s chairman, Dr Asuquo Inuikim, appeared on a live TV show, “News Night” of ARISE NEWS in Abuja, reinforcing the “illegality of MAN Oron’s operation, and urging the federal government to do the needful. Inuikim clarified that in spite of the allegations about NIMASA’s withdrawal on the funding of UMSO, and the institution’s potential of losing IMO backing, he was sure that those making such statements had not read the UMSO Act, which he said had made adequate provisions to cover those areas.

Another group that has ferociously fought for the institution of UMSO is the Oro Youth Movement (OYOM), a civil liberty organisation that speaks on behalf of the entire Oro youths. In a petition dated 3rd February, 2025 and submitted to the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation of the House of Representatives, OYOM sought the denial of the 2025 budget allocation for the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron on the ground that it was legally defunct, following its repeal by the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO) Establishment Act, 2022.

It further prayed that the Speaker be briefed to direct the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to immediately suspend fresh admissions for ND and HND programmes still being run under the defunct MAN, Oron in contravention of the UMSO Act, and to facilitate the appointment by Mr. President of a vice-chancellor and governing council for UMSO as stipulated by law, in order to promote transparency and responsible governance.

The petition was endorsed by president, Comrade Edet Eyo; vice president 1, Comrade Victor Onomo; the secretary, Comrade Edet Iyahakwa; director of media and publicity, Comrade Victor Obiosio; director of security and special duties, Comrade Oyokunyi Umoh; director of women affairs, Comrade Silvia Ekpot; and director of organisation and mobilisation, Comrade Emmanuel Essang.

OYOM, in a press conference held on 21st February, 2025 at Uyo, raised two main issues: first, the unlawful delay in implementing the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO) Establishment Act, 2022, which repealed the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron Act 2004. They condemned the continued illegal administration of the defunct MAN, Oron by its management and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy through appointment of a governing council in 2024 and an acting rector in 2025 instead of a vice-chancellor and a governing council for UMSO. While frowning at the continued illegal admission for ND/HND programmes with risk of issuing invalid certificates to students, OYOM appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to enforce the rule of law and ensure the take-off of UMSO.

Meanwhile, a letter dated 5th May, 2025 by A. M. Azeez and Associates of Shalom Chambers, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, on behalf of their client, Oro Youth Movement (OYOM), addressed to the President and Commander-in-Chief, requested expedited and full-scale implementation of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (Establishment) Act, 2022.

The letter, copied the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of the Federation, and other relevant offices, lamented that since 2023 when UMSO Act came into force, retrogressive forces had truncated its implementation through deliberate continuation of admissions under the non-existent MAN, Oron, recent appointment of an Acting Rector instead of a vice-chancellor, and non-constitution of the governing council. OYOM appealed to the President “as a lover of education and development to direct relevant agencies to immediately implement the Act in the interest of justice for present and future generations and in line with the Renewed Hope agenda.”

Furthermore, an open petition dated 30 October, 2025 by Oro Youth Movement (OYOM) and addressed to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Senator Adegboyega Oyetola, called for urgent stoppage of the unlawful Passing Out Parade (POP) and issuance of fake certificates being organised under the legally repealed and defunct Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, describing it as fraudulent, null and void.

The group accused the management of sabotaging UMSO take-off by refusing to forward memo for appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor and refusing to admit degree students as directed by NUC and JAMB to serve “personal commercial interests”, noting prior petitions to DSS on 9th and 11th July 2025 with evidence, and warning that the fake certificates would destroy students’ future, damage Nigeria’s education credibility, provoke tension and unrest in Oron. OYOM therefore urged the Minister to immediately cancel the POP, order investigation, arrest and prosecute culprits, enforce compliance for UMSO take-off, and collaborate with NUC and Federal Ministry of Education to uphold the law.

Similarly, in a letter dated 27th January, 2026 and addressed to the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy on undue delay in implementing the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO) Establishment Act, 2022, OYOM recalled the Ministry’s own assurances contained in its letter of 29th November, 2024 to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance that it had directed MAN, Oron to comply with the UMSO Act and commence transition. In that letter, endorsed by the president, Comrade Edet Eyo; the secretary, Comrade Edet Iyahakwa, and other executive members, OYOM reminded the minister that the renewed six-month acting tenure of the rector, Dr Kelvin Okonna, would elapse in January 2026, and that moves to further prolong it were causing anxiety which prompted Oron political leadership to engage Senate President Godswill Akpabio in December 2025.

The group stated that further delay would imply a deliberate deprivation against the rule of law, risking youth restiveness, and therefore prayed the minister to cooperate with the Senate President to realise his assurance and to ensure appointment of a proper governing council and vice-chancellor for the take-off of UMSO without further delay.

In the same vein, WatchmanPost’s publication on 10 June, 2026, reports that activist and president of Oro Renewal Group, Comrade Victor Mkpofor gave reasons why Oro Nation may withhold support for Governor Umo Eno’s 2027 re-election bid. According to Mkpofor, “Unless tangible progress is made on the Ibom Deep Seaport and the take-off of the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, there will be no useful reason for Oro people to vote for Umo Eno as a governorship candidate during the 2027 general elections.”

Victor Mkpofor argued that Oro which hosts the strategic coastal corridor has received only promises despite the seaport having federal approvals, environmental assessments and feasibility studies but still at procurement stage. He added, “Despite the UMSO Bill assented to by President Buhari almost four years ago with all arrangements concluded and a 2024 assessment by NUC, Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy recommending commencement, nothing has still happened.”

He maintained, “That denial is possible because of lack of advocacy by the state government and Oro leaders in government who are there for their pockets; 2027 should be judged on measurable development outcomes not political loyalty, as both projects are critical to jobs, investment and redefining Oro’s economic destiny.”