Maritime varsity begins academic activities with 300 students

At last, the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State has begun its academic activities.

The chairman of the university’s Governing Council, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva disclosed this yesterday.

Sylva, who paid a courtesy visit to the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said the activities began with 300 students.

He commended the governor for his contributions to the development of the school.

Okowa described the commencement of academic activities as a good omen that would consolidate the existing peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

Meanwhile, a renowned don, Prof. G.G. Darah, has blamed the Federal Government for alleged neglect of the Federal University of Petroleum (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State.

He spoke at the university’s Annual Lecture, chaired by the Dean, College of Management Science, Prof G. O. Yomere.

The title of the lecture was: “Africa on a Global Stage: From Genesis to Revelation.”

According to Darah, it took the Niger Delta people relentless agitations and protests before the Federal Government could establish a project in the region, including FUPRE.

He explained that the neglect of the region began at the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1967, where the Federal Government turned the region into an economic colony for pillage and plunder.

He added that the abolition of federalism by the military dictators from the late 1960s had made revenue-rich areas of the country to be vassals of the omnipotent and corrupt central government.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, who was represented by the Dean, College of Postgraduate School, Prof. Christopher Ajuwa, expressed delight at the topic of the lecture.

In a related development, the Federal University of Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, has been shut indefinitely.

This followed protest by the students over mode of paying their outstanding school fees before writing the ongoing semester examinations.