Editorial
When will Tinubu Appoint Principal Officers, Constitute Governing Council for UMSO?
The University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO), Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, has been on the horizon for years, with the federal government consistently reaffirming its commitment to establishing the institution. Despite the progress made so far, the university’s take-off has been hindered by the non- appointment of principal officers like vice chancellor, registrar, and bursar, among others, as well as the constitution of a governing council.
As Nigerians eagerly await the appointment of key officials for the school, the question on everyone’s mind is: when will President Tinubu appoint those officers to kick start UMSO?
To be clear, the journey to establishing UMSO has been long and arduous. As far back as 2001, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Transport, announced its plan to upgrade the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, to a maritime university. This plan was reiterated by various ministers and government officials over the years, including Chief Ojo Madueke, Dr. Abiye S. P. Sekibo, and Senator Idris Umar. The rectors of MAN also played a significant roles in pushing for the upgrade, engaging with the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other stakeholders to meet the necessary requirements.
The real journey started with the sponsorship of the University of Maritime Studies Bill. The Bill, sponsored by Senator Akon Eyakenyi during the 9th Senate, equally had its concurrency at the House of Representatives. Upon being concurred, the late President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Bill in February 2023, paving the way for the processes that would terminate in the implementation of the Act.
Currently, the University of Maritime Studies, Oron, has been listed as one of the approved and recognised federal universities in Nigeria by the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has also recognized it and is set to conduct admissions into the university. Furthermore, the gazetted Act establishing UMSO provides for funding from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other sources, as well as a joint supervision by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
However, despite these advancements, the appointment of principal officers remains a major hurdle. The Federal Ministry of Education has written to the president requesting the appointment of a vice chancellor and other key officials, but so far, no appointments have been made. This delay has raised concerns about the potential impact on the university’s take-off and the students who are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to enrol in the school.
It is worth noting that President Tinubu has shown his commitment to education by appointing governing councils and principal officers for other federal institutions. For instance, he recently appointed the governing councils and principal officers for the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State, and the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Abeokuta. These appointments demonstrate the president’s willingness to support education and development in Nigeria.
In light of this, it is reasonable to expect that President Tinubu would equally appoint the principal officers for UMSO. The university’s establishment is not only a long overdue project, but also a crucial step towards developing Nigeria’s maritime industry. With the necessary officials in place, UMSO can begin to fulfil its mandate of providing quality education and training in maritime studies.
While the delay in appointing principal officers for UMSO is concerning, WatchmanPost urges stakeholders of this critical house of maritime knowledge to keep hope alive. We also call on Mr. President to act on this natter without further delay. When this happens, the university will begin to realise its full potential and contribute to Nigeria’s blue economy growth and development.
