DARAH: It’s Ridiculous For Govt To Scrap Varsity

Prof. Godini G. Darah, a radical scholar of folklore science and literature and leading authority on Urhobo culture and artistic civilization, spoke with CHIDO OKAFOR on plan by the Federal Government to scrap the Maritime University at Okerenkoko, Delta State.

Is the Maritime University really relevant?

THE Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, was established in response to the problem of the chronic shortage of Nigerian personnel and experts in the country’s maritime industry. As at 2014, the country needed about 150,000 mariners and seafarers to service the industry, but there were less than 1000 available. Foreign experts dominate the maritime business. For several decades, Nigeria has spent huge sums of money to train mariners in foreign institutions. I understand NIMASA bears the cost of the offshore training.

Nigeria is richly endowed in maritime resources. She has a coastline of over 800km and about 3,000 km of inland waterways. Nigeria is truly a maritime nation but we have neither seafarers nor ships to exploit these advantages. Research has revealed that about 70 per cent of earth’s riches are in the oceans; many of them are yet to be exploited. The world’s maritime economy is a huge one, with thousands of ships involved in navigation and transportation of goods and cargoes. Ships transport most of Nigeria’s exports such as crude oil, gas and imported refined products. In this huge global maritime economy, Nigeria cannot play an active role because she does not have the institutions that train the experts. Compare Nigeria’s situation to that of other similarly endowed nations. The Philippines has 44 maritime universities/institutions. In nearly every ship sailing in the oceans, there is a Filipino and it is a source of income for their country. The United Kingdom has 16 maritime institutions; there are 14 in Bangladesh and 13 in Indonesia. Nigeria deserves to be in the league of these nations.

Is it the first of its kind in Black Africa?

The Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is not the first in Black Africa. There is one in Ghana and a few universities in South Africa offer courses in maritime studies. The Arab Maritime Academy with campuses in Egypt and several other Gulf states is probably the best established in Africa. In the design of academic and professional courses for the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, we adopted the relevant sections of the curricula of world-renowned maritime institutions. The technical team of NIMASA visited the Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom and the Nayang Technological University, Singapore, which have high-ranking status in maritime engineering. Global standards set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) were also adhered to in the academic plans.

The University is planned to run courses that are of priority concern in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea sub-region because many foreign students are expected. The initial faculties are those of Basic Studies/Science for all students; Marine Transport; Maritime Engineering and Technology; and Maritime Environment Management. In addition to these four faculties, there will be three world-class research institutes, namely, Environment and Water Research Institute, with capacity to produce healthy, clean water from the sea and salt water in the mangrove ecology; Enterprise Development Centre with scope for a Maritime Business School; and Institute of Maritime Sports and Tourism.

Was NIMASA right to have delved into the Maritime University project, especially as the Buhari Government says it is shrouded in corruption?

The background information pertaining to the first question above shows that the University project is necessary and relevant to the economic development of the country. NIMASA is the agency responsible for managing maritime resources and facilities in the country. I think it is the same agency that should implement the country’s cabotage laws relating to local content, ownership of ships and vessels, and training of technical personnel and mariners. NIMASA also knows how much Nigeria spends training experts overseas. It was proper for the agency to facilitate the establishment of the University. I have no information about the project being “shrouded in corruption”. I am not aware that an audit of the entire project has been done.

Is the Federal Government right in its plan to scrap it?

It will appear ridiculous for the government to plan to scrap the University. What will be the excuse? I have indicated earlier that by virtue of Nigeria’s location beside the Atlantic Ocean, our country should host many maritime universities and institutions. Navigation and maritime transportation have become knowledge-driven, like other modern businesses. To be active and competitive in the global maritime economy, Nigeria needs thousands of experts trained in relevant academic institutions. We should think of establishing more, rather than scrapping the only one about to takeoff.

Does the Federal Government have powers to scrap it?

We are not talking about power; that is not the issue. The establishment of the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, followed due process. The proposals, academic brief and curriculum, as well as master plan were all approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which is the legitimate approving body for public and private universities. The request was presented at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council and it approved the project. Principal officers and Governing Council were appointed. I understand they even reported at Okerenkoko and the takeoff campus. What is the rationale for suspending the project? Is it because it is the Niger Delta?

What will the Niger Delta lose if it is scrapped?

It is not Niger Delta that will lose; it is Nigeria that will suffer. The rumour about scrapping points to the fear that the Federal Government has intention to penalize the Niger Delta. Yet, the Niger Delta accounts for the bulk of the revenue the government spends on projects in even resource-famished sections of the country. A few years ago, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan approved federal universities in about 10 of the northern states. They are all functioning till this day.

Okerenkoko, the host community of the University, is along the Escravos River, one of the busiest waterways in Africa. The Escravos oil tank farm of Chevron is nearby. Gigantic oil and gas facilities are in the area. The Escravos channel connects the ports of Warri, Sapele, and Koko to the Atlantic Ocean. Foreigners from all continents of the world have been doing business in the area for centuries. The area deserves to host a federal university. Surely, the talk about scrapping the Maritime University is an act of provocation.

How do you see the role played by Tompolo in the university’s establishment?

I don’t know the role played by Tompolo. I have described in sections above the processes that were followed. The academic brief, curriculum, master plan and other relevant documents were done in compliance with due process. The activities were facilitated by NIMASA as an agency of the Federal Ministry of Transport. I read news report that property owned by Tompolo was acquired for the temporary site of the university.

A section of the permanent site undergoing construction

Could the scrapping lead to another crisis in the Niger Delta?

I cannot tell if a crisis will result from such rash action. But there is no justification whatsoever to contemplate abolishing the University. The Federal Government ought to know that there is no federal university or higher institution in the mangrove creeks of the core Niger Delta. The Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, is the first and only institution of that status in the entire riverine sections of the Niger Delta from Ondo State in the west to Rivers State in the east.

Looking at the location of the University, is it feasible?

What is the problem with the location? The planned site is about 100 hectares of land and this has been secured. For over 50 years, Shell, Chevron, Mobil, and other multinational oil companies have been operating lucrative businesses there. Their expatriate staff live there. Billions of dollars earned from the oil and gas in these Ijaw and Itsekiri lands sustain the Nigerian economy. It is arrogant and insulting for anyone to suggest that Okerenkoko and environs are not suitable for an academic institution.