Former rector decries poor funding

[Mirror]

The immediate past rector of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Mr. Nseyen Ebong has identified inadequate funding as the major problem facing the institution in recent times.

Ebong stated this when the new rector, Mr. Joshua Okpo paid him a condolence visit following the death of his mother, late Madam Rhoda Ekanem Ebong.

According to him, for the academy to attain the much expected degree awarding status, the Federal Government must step up the funding by way of budgetary allocation and sponsoring of cadets on foreign training.

Mr. Nseyen Ebong who was rector for eight years, noted that funding of the Maritime Academy from his tenure to the present one has been grossly inadequate.

He commended Mr. Joshua Okpo for transforming the academy through the execution of various projects and programmes, despite poor funding.

Ebong, who thanked Mr. Joshua Okpo for consolidating on his achievements, called on the Federal Ministry of Transport, NIMASA and multinational companies in the country to support the academy, especially now the institution is to be transformed into a worldclass university.

"MAN is my immediate constituency, the critical problem facing it is under funding. It is always very difficult to get money from the Federal Government through statutory and budgetary allocations. I believe it is the major problem the rector is facing," Ebong maintained.

He thanked members of the academy for identifying with him in his moment of grief, even as he described his late mother as great and caring.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Joshua Okpo commended Mr. Nseyen Ebong on the foundation on which his administration is building on.

Okpo noted that the history of the academy will be incomplete without acknowledging the achievements of Mr. Nseyene Ebong.

Paying tributes to the late Rhoda, Mr. Okpo viewed her demise as a passage of a legend, matriarch and woman leader who had lived a fruitful life.

National Mirror