Rivers State Government said that plans are on the way to collaborate with foreign academic institutions to develop a Maritime Academy in the State.
The Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment, Hon. Ipalibo Macdnald Harry said this when he led a delegation of Leon Female Maritime Students from the State in Amet University in Chenni, India to Government House Port Harcourt.
Hon. Harry said that the Ministry in conjunction with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Authority (RSSDA) have reached an agreement with Amet University India to ensure that the domestication of the academic Institution is achieved in the State soon.
He maintained that Isaka Holiday Resort centre have been chosen by government for the establishment of the institution.
Hon. Harry also said that the Maritime Academy in India operate three and four year programmes and awards B.Sc. degrees in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering respectively.
The Commissioner added that eleven out of the students are studying Maritime Engineering while the rest are for Nautical Science.
Hon Harry advised them to take their studies seriously in order to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
The Co-ordinator of the Able Seamanship, Mr. Lawrence Berewariso said that the students had finished their first year programme and they would go back to continue their studies.
Expressing their gratitude, some of the students said that they were in the State to felicitate with Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on his 48th Birthday.
