Construction work on the permanent site of the NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State has reached a very advanced stage. This is in furtherance of the Dr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi led Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA)’s policy thrust to position Nigeria in the forefront of human capital development in the maritime sector.

The college which commenced academic activities in its temporary site two years ago is a senior secondary school certificate equivalency institution aimed at producing middle level manpower for developing the Nigerian Maritime sector, grandaunts of this college which specialises in science and technical studies are expected to further hone their requisite skills in maritime studies by attending the NIMASA owned Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko and other maritime faculties established by the agency in specific universities across the country or benefit from the Nigeria Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) which presently sponsors Nigerian Maritime students in various institutions in established maritime capacity development countries, such as The United Kingdom, Romania, India and Philippines.

Speaking to journalists while conducting them round the on-going construction at the permanent site of the college, the Principal, Mr Akpos Biokeme said that admission into the school is not limited to any geopolitical zone of the country but with a spread that is national, stating that students are only admitted on merit and that they have already commenced the process of advertising for admission of the third batch of students into the institution, he urged school leavers to avail themselves of this opportunity by applying for the test and interview process across the country. He said that there will be test centres across cities in Lagos, Borno, Enugu and Delta states and Abuja. Reacting to questions he posited that the students are on a scholarship provided by the agency as the institution is entirely board and tuition free.

The Deputy Director of Public Relations, NIMASA, Mr Isichei Osamgbi told journalists that the agency has taken a position aimed at tackling the dearth of qualified manpower in the maritime sector as it is rigorously pursuing the development of human capacity by establishing maritime faculties in various Nigerian Universities, building a Specialised maritime university (Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko) and the NSDP programme in addition to the Technical College. This, he said is creating a vast pool of seafarers that will on graduation form the bulk of manpower in that sector of the economy.

In the area of community relations the Chairman of the Okoloba community, Mr Alphonsus Feh expressed appreciation on behalf of the Okoloba people to the federal government for citing the technical college in their community and that they are willing to extend their cooperation to the institution and contractors working on the project to ensure that the school, in the nearest future resume academic activities at the permanent site.

The principal of the school thereafter took the inspection team on a facility tour of the temporary site of the institution which presently admits students from various states of the federation including Taraba, Adamawa, Delta, Kogi etc.

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