By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) for practical and field trip of its Marine Engineering students.
A statement by Mr Joe Ejiofor, Deputy Registrar/Head of Public Relations, YABATECH, on Wednesday, said the signing took place at NIOMR headquarters.
It was to establish a working relationship between the two government organisations.
“The working relationship is expected to enable Marine Engineering students of the training facilities of the college to gain unhindered access to the marine facilities at NIOMR for their practical and field trip session.
“This ultimately forms part of the requirement for the fulfillment of the award of National Diploma and Ordinary National Certificates in Marine Engineering.
“It’s a good step in the right direction that we have taken as this will go a long way to open a new chapter in the working relationship between YABATECH and NIOMR,” Ejiofor said.
He quoted Prof (Capt.) Sule Abiodun, NIOMR Executive Director/CEO, as expressing happiness about the collaboration between the two organisations.
Abiodun, as quoted in the statement, described NIOMR as a multidisciplinary research institute with activities encompassing virtually all aspects that are concerned with ocean and marine science.
He said that NIOMR’s role is to assist local institutions like Yabatech achieve their optimum capacity in the area of Marine Technology.
The Ag. Rector, Mr Inyang- Udoh, who was represented by the polytechnic librarian, Dr (Mrs) Serah Oketunji, is quoted as saying that YABATECH found it necessary to collaborate with NIOMR because of its state of the art marine engineering facilities.
“These facilities will be used by the marine engineering students of the college as a fulfillment of part of the requirement for accreditation of marine engineering department by the NBTE,” he said.
According to the statement, the Marine Engineering Department of the College was conceived in 2004 during the tenure of Dr. Olubunmi Owoso as Rector.
The vision then was to build a world class and standard maritime school.
The first phase of the maritine school started in October 2012 with the administration of Dr Kudi Ladipo who got NBTE approval to inspect facilities and resources available for the programme.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)