Oro Youths Rally Support For Academy Development

Sunny Edemenang -Uyo

Against their earlier agitation for reversal of the Technical Committee set up by the federal government to restructure and reposition the Academy, youth leaders from various groups in the five local government areas of Oro Nation have pledged their unalloyed support toward the development of the nation’s premier Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron.

The sudden change of hearts by the youths was disclosed during their meeting with the Rector of the Academy, Cdre. Daju Effedua (rtd), recently as part of their contributions toward the efforts of the federal government to  bring MAN, Oron at par with similar institutions for global competitiveness.

The youths used the forum to restate their unflinching support to the management of the Academy in all the processes of development of the institution.

Speaking through the leaders of Akpakip Oro Grand land Peace Keeping Association and Oro Youths Forum groups – Prince Uwe Ebek and Comrade Sunday Udokwo respectively, the youths expressed their desire to see the Academy evolved into a full fledged world class Maritime University, as suing the Rector of their readiness to engender a peaceful environment and to join hands with management to ensure that the institution attains acceptable standard and enviable heights.

Responding, the Rector, Cdre. Daju Effedua (rtd) commended the youths for heeding his call for Peace and intimated them of the plans by the federal government to reposition and restructure the Academy for good. He enjoined them to shun restive tendencies and embrace peace since on meaningful development can thrive well in a violent environment.

The Rector assured the youths that the Academy’s Management would continue to discharge it’s Corporate Social Responsibility to its host communities, but urged them to unite into one formidable and cohesive group.

In the Rector’s opinion, the youths were advised to create a research and development unit, where they would Carry out research on issues affecting them and request assistance where necessary, pointing out that this would have a more positive effect on the development of the community and human empowerment as well as writing their names in gold.

He reiterated the Academy Management’s  commitment to the host communities as a matter of priority whenever there is need and used the occasion to debunk the rumoured sack by the Interim Management Committee IMC, stressing that “the Interim Management Committee is not here to victimize anybody as rumoured”, reasoning that, ” it is easy to employ but not easy to sack, there are a lot of things involved before one is sacked”.

The youth groups present were; Oro Youth Movement, National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, Oro Patriotic Youth Organization and International Youth Forum. Others were; Oro Nation Young Professionals, Common People Organization and Eyo Abasi Youth Council, amongst others.