Navy Partners Private Firm on Proposed IUSAMS Varsity - NUC Pledges Support

L-R: Dr. Pavlos Pavlou; NUC Scribe, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON and Rear Admiral J. O. Oluwole

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, has described the International University of Science, Arts and Maritime Studies (IUSAMS), proposed to be located at Ogwashi-Ukwu, Ibusa, Delta State, by the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with its subsidiary company, Naval Building and Construction Company Limited (NBCCL) and Hellenic Education, as a giant step that would enhance the training programmes of the Navy when established

L-R: NUC Scribe, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON and Rear Admiral J. O. Oluwole

Receiving a delegation of the proposed University led by Rear Admiral J.O Oluwole of the Nigerian Navy, on a courtesy visit in his office, on Monday, 17 August, 2015, Professor Okojie stated that the University would be the first of its kind when established. He commended the promoters for the initiative. Professor Okojie informed the team that running a university required a great commitment of funds and tasked the promoters to ensure that the University concentrated on those programmes that would give it comparative advantage, having been championed by a Maritimerelated organisation. He noted that the NUC had the responsibility to guide them in achieving their goal, stressing that every university set up in Nigeria was expected to stick to its mandates and be run in line with laid down procedures. Professor Okojie expressed joy that the involvement of the private sector in establishing uni- 7 Monday Bulletin Vol. 10 No. 34 - 24 August, 2015 A Publication of the Office of the Executive Secretary L-R: Dr. Pavlos Pavlou; NUC Scribe, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON and Rear Admiral J. O. Oluwole versities had increased access to university education, stating that private universities had also enhanced quality in the sector. He told the delegation that he was elated about the idea of establishing a specialised university that would complement the training needs of the Nigerian Navy, saying that the Commission would do its best to support the promoters to ensure that the proposed institution took off on a sound footing. Responding, the Team Leader, Rear Admiral J. O Oluwole, thanked the Executive Secretary for the warm reception accorded them and disclosed that they had already started the modalities for the setting up of the University and would return to the Commission in a couple of weeks with the infrastructure and the building plan. He assured him that the promoters were prepared to meet NUC’s requirements for the establishment of the University and that they would follow due process in running the programmes. Rear Admiral Oluwole informed the Executive Secretary that the proposed University would not be controlled solely by the Navy, but also by a School Management

Professor Akaneren Essien
Chairman, SCOPU

Committee, in conjunction with other partners. He appreciated the kind gestures of the NUC Scribe, and for agreeing to assist the team with all the necessary support documents that would aid the proposers in building a solid institution. Others in the delegation were, the representatives of Hellenic Education/University of Nicosia, Cyprus, Dr Pavlos Pavlou; Mr. Kabir Ado Bayero; Rear Admiral (rtd). K. O Komomolafe; representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Vol. 10 No. 34 - 24 August, 2015 A Publication of the Office of the Executive Secretary 8 Monday Bulletin NUC Scribe, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, in a group photograph with the visitors and some members of the Standing Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) Hajia Hadiza Abdulrahman DD, UA & Member, SCOPU Mr. Mustapha Rasheed DD in DPP&D & Member, SCOPU Lieutenant Commander O. A. Ekokotu; Captain S.H. Abdullahi; Engineer I. A Mohammed; Engineer I.A Wakali; the Managing Director of NBCCL, Commodore A. B. Adamu; a Civil Engineer with the Company; as well as some Consultants of the Nigerian Navy, Professor Olatunji Abanikannda; Dr. Idris O. Jibrin and those of Hellenic Education/AASTMTEgypt, Mr. Mohi Eldui Mohamed Elsayeh and Mr. Amr Ali Mohamed Hassan, respectively.