A year ago, the Imo state government announced the establishment of the first ever Marine University in Africa situated at Ose-motto, Ogula local government area of the state, close to the federal government-funded seaport and naval base project sites. CHIDIEBERE IWUOHA takes a look at the challenges the young university may face
Governor Rochas Okorocha told the media during a visit to the proposed site that with the issue of land now settled, work would commence and the university which would be the first of its kind in Africa would be of benefit to the host community, Imo State and Nigeria.
The governor had revealed that the primary phase of the project would cost about N2.5 billion, comprising the construction of the perimeter fencing, landscaping of the administrative blocks, classrooms and hostels. He further disclosed that the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) would fund the project, stressing that the commission had sufficient resources to execute the project.
Okorocha had pledged that the university would be ready to admit its first set of students in the next two years, adding that the state Government was collaborating with the Korean Marine University after a visit by the ISOPADEC Board to the institution to understudy its programme.
He appreciated the efforts of the people of Ose-motto community in the donation of a parcel of land for the university’s project as well as the sitting of the federal government’s Sea Port and Naval base projects which he noted, would be of great advantage to the institution.
The Managing Director of ISOPADEC, Prince Dr. Henry Okafor, in his speech, said that the commission had the financial capacity to undertake the development of the first phase of the project. He expressed appreciation to the governor for approving the site and acknowledged that the Ose-moto people were anxious to witness the successful execution of the project. He further added that when completed, the project would guarantee them service in the oil companies.
Legal backing
It is no longer news that the necessary legal backing had been accorded the young university by the Imo state House of Assembly. The Majority Leader, Mrs. Adaku Ihuoma who also represents Aboh Mbaise in the lead debate on the law disclosed the economic and social benefits of the university if put in place, adding that the academic needs were enormous.
Hon. Ihuoma further stressed that advance learning in marine related areas would be a plus to the nation and beyond. After much deliberations on the desirability or otherwise to the establishment of the university, the speaker said the establishment of the institution would improve human lives..
More knocks against the varsity
The University has since then, started in earnest, with the first phase gone far. But there are still some Imolites who believe that the project should not have been midwifed in the first place or that the 13% oil derivation of the oil producing Local Government Areas of Oguta and Ohaji/Egbema should not have been touched or used for that kind of project which they regard as “uncalled for”.
One of them is erstwhile speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Goodluck Nanah Opiah. He queried, “Is the project for whom? Who is interested in going to a Marine University? In what ways would Marine University benefit the people who are poor, under developed, hungry? Who have suffered this age-long neglect of oil pollution and environmental degradation?”.
The ex-speaker, who hails from Ohaji Egbema L.G.A, had accused Okorocha of being interested in the business of acquiring cement and block as such contracts would be awarded to his brothers, in-laws and friends who by so doing would amass some wealth for themselves.
Also speaking the chairman of Awara Court Area Development Forum, Barr. Ikechukwu Ezekwe opined that the project was not well conceptualized; adding that such project should not have been sited just because of the presence of the Wonder Lake. He made it clear that there had to be the presence of maritime businesses or activities around there.
Ezekwe believed that several months after the sitting of the university, nothing could be seen as evidence for actual implementation, adding that the project initiators did not take into consideration the sensibilities of Ogula people in designing the project.
He was also sad that the whole 13% oil derivation was reserved for the construction of the institution, whereas it should have been divided into two, with state government keeping 60%, while the oil producing areas take 40% for the development of the basic infrastructure.
ISOPADEC factor
What could be regarded as the real situation report on the Imo Marine University was tendered by the Managing Director of Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), Prince. Dr Henry Okafor, also an indigene of Ose-moto, the host community of the university, sounded it loud and clear that construction work was on-going and that anybody who wanted to verify was free to visit the site. He however blamed heavy rains for the slow pace of work in the institution as no contractor would do a serious job during rainy season.
He said that the 1.8 kilometers dual carriage access road to the institution was being hampered by the rainy season, adding that only 1
kilometer had successfully been stone-based with tones of stone base heaped all over the place.
Okafor disclosed that a hostel of about 78 to 90 rooms, two classroom blocks, and Administrative blocks, a workshop and gate house were being constructed at the site, while thousands of blocks, irons, and rods were waiting to be used for construction.
He expressed optimism that by December this year, three or four blocks would be completed to ensure the first phase of its construction, while further construction could go on while learning commenced. But he was quick to mention that it was subject to the mercy of the rains.
On the need to have other maritime activities around the university, the ISOPADEC managing director said that a contract was awarded by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to construct an Inland Port and that it had reached 70% completion, adding that the project was situated 2 kilometers away from the Maritime University just like the one he saw in South Korea when he went to understudy the one in Pusam. He was hopeful that the students of the Imo State Maritime University would use the inland port for training.
