Oron elders decry delay in Maritime University’s take off, four years after presidential approval

Elders of the Oron nation in Akwa Ibom State have voiced concerns over the University of Maritime Studies, Oron (UMSO), which remains non‑operational almost four years after its establishment by an Act of the National Assembly and signing into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16, 2023.

Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the elders described the prolonged delay in activating the university as unacceptable, warning that Nigeria could jeopardise its maritime development goals and miss key opportunities in the blue economy sector.

The elders, who identified themselves as Oron Stakeholders, said that despite years of advocacy, legislative processes, stakeholder engagements and eventual presidential assent, the university still exists only “on paper” with no substantive operational structures in place.

Professor Emmanuel Onwioduokit, speaking on behalf of the elders, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the university’s affairs to bring it into reality.

“A university that exists in law must also exist in reality,” the elders declared.

They traced the institution’s origins to recommendations made in 2008 by the Niger Delta Development Technical Committee, which proposed upgrading the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, into a full‑fledged maritime university.

According to the elders, expectations following the bill’s enactment included the appointment of principal officers, the constitution of governing structures and the commencement of academic activities—none of which has materialised.

The stakeholders expressed concern that, despite engagements with the National Universities Commission (NUC), consultations with relevant ministries and mobilisation efforts by stakeholders, the university remains dormant.

They questioned the Federal Government over what they described as an unusually slow implementation process, asking why the appointment of a substantive Vice‑Chancellor and other principal officers had not been completed and why the Governing Council has yet to be fully constituted.

The elders also asked why public resources are still being directed to structures that were expected to transition into the new university framework.

“This issue goes beyond Oron,” the stakeholders said, noting that the university was conceived as a national centre for maritime excellence, a driver of Nigeria’s blue economy, a hub for maritime research and innovation, and a platform for youth employment and educational advancement.

They warned that every additional delay translates into lost educational opportunities, weakened public confidence and stalled regional economic development.

The group therefore called on the administration of Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene by ensuring the immediate operationalisation of the institution.

Among their demands were the immediate appointment of a Vice‑Chancellor and principal officers, full constitution of the Governing Council, issuance of clear directives to relevant ministries and agencies, publication of a transparent implementation timeline, and an administrative review of all factors responsible for the delay.

“We are not demanding special treatment. We are asking that an existing federal law be fully implemented,” the forum stated.