8th May, 2024
The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed a motion calling on the State Government to introduce maritime courses in selected Tertiary Institutions in the State.
The motion was raised by the member representing Lokoja I State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijjani (BEST) at Wednesday’s plenary.
The lawmaker noted in the motion that the enormous water bodies in the state have educational benefits and mentioned the Rivers Niger and Benue, the location of a naval base in Lokoja, hence the need to run maritime courses in selected tertiary institutions.
“Maritime education is a form of academic studies that prepares students for career opportunities in the maritime industry which amongst others includes seafaring, shipping, port management, and marine engineering,” the lawmaker noted in the motion.
He stressed that maritime education offers many benefits to students, aside from job placements in the flourishing maritime sector, with hands-on experience provided through simulations, practical exercises, and onboard training programmes as well as personal growth and development of skills such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
He further noted that introducing maritime Courses in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Confluence University, Osara, and Kogi State University, Kaba, in collaboration with the Nigeria Navy, Lokoja, would enable the institutions gain access to facilities that will enhance effective learning process in both class and onboard programmes.
He used the example of Lagos State which has introduced Marine Engineering Technology at Yaba College of Technology, secured the location of Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology in Victoria Island and established eleven other private maritime institutions as part of efforts to exploit the abundant marine resources in the State.
The motion further noted that “These were done to harness the benefits of their territorial water; (the Atlantic) and indeed the naval base in the State for the State educational development.
“Worried that aside the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom, there are 23 other privately owned diploma awarding maritime institutions approved by NAMASA in Nigeria, among which eleven (u)are in Lagos State, Six (6) in Delta State, Five (5) in Rivers State, one (1) in Imo State and no one in the whole of the Northern Nigeria.
“Whereas, the maritime courses being urged herein, if introduced in the identified institutions will provide academic courses leading to the award of National Diploma in Nautical Service, Diploma in Maritime Transport and Business Studies, Diploma in Maritime Engineering among others.”
The lawmaker therefore prayed the house to resolve and convey to the Governing Boards of the selected institutions (Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Confluence University, Osara and Kogi State University, Kabba).
It also urged them to consider and commence necessary arrangements for the establishment of applicable School or Faculty of Maritime Studies with relevant academic courses with a view to harnessing the potential of the rivers confluence and the naval base towards the educational development of the State.
Signed: Yabagi Mohammed,
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker,
Kogi State House of Assembly.