Delta Govt Transforming Maritime Poly, Burutu, Says Governing Chair

…Seeks Understanding

By Bulou Kosin

Chairman, governing council of Delta State Maritime Polytechnic, Burutu, Chief Julius Tarabiri Government has appealed to stakeholders to see development of the institute as a journey, not a sprint, assuring the school was being transformed.

Chief Government, who also appealed to the Ijaw National Congress, INC, to be visible/active in Delta State to partner the political class towards rapid development for the Ijaw terrain, said the formation of Ijaw Journalists Association Worldwide, IJAW, was a welcome initiative.

The Maritime Polytechnic chair made the appeal during a courtesy call on him, weekend, by the IJAW, led by its National President, Bulou Kosin, who voiced concerns that the only and wobbling state-owned tertiary institution in the Ijaw terrain of Delta State was reportedly not yet on the available permanent site, well over a decade, after take-off.

Kosin said “IJAW is set to add a clear voice in the clamour for better deal for the entire Ijaw nation in Nigeria”, urging: “Ijaw leadership, at all levels, development institutions and populace should accept our partnership to forge and foster accelerated growth”.

Explaining the school’s journey under his watch, Chief Government, a former 1st Member of SBEB, said “I became governing chair in 2019 when it was a monotechnic. Honestly, it is sad that for well over a decade, the school still operates on a temporary site.

“I want to appeal, however, that development of an institution is often not a sprint, but a journey. I found the institute did not get a take-off grant which explains why things as basic as passport 19 speedboats for use, were not available for long. The school survived largely with donations from the Burutu people which is clear indication that the Ijaw people love education and are committed to the school.

“Despite delay in physical structures”, Chief Government, a former member of the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State said “there is transformation in the maritime polytechnic in key areas as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori builds on what former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa did.

“We dealt with change to a Polytechnic with a bill that was signed to law. We had to move the School from the Ministry of Transport to Ministry of Higher Education as the Supervising Ministry.

“From the 17 already accredited courses, we are working towards accreditation of more courses for the Polytechnic status. Recently, Governor Oborevwori approved 30 employment slots -25 academic and 5 non-academic staff. In the 2025 budget signed into law, there is provision for acquisition of a training vessel of about N1billion which proves that the Delta State Government minds development of the school.

“On the vast permanent site of the school stands a gigantic administrative block apparently abandoned at foundation level. The Uduaghan administration awarded the contract. It will take steps for the contract to be reviewed, revoked or re-awarded as a way forward for the permanent site.

*A budgetary provision of N1.5 billion is attached to the project. As we speak, arrangements have been concluded for the maiden Convocation on March 9, 2025. It is my prayer that Governor Oborevwori will attend and announce ground-breaking commitments to the School and other concerns to the Ijaw people/terrain in Delta State”.

“Let us commend government for what it has done, what it is doing and what it plans to do. The Ayakoromo bridge was a project before Governor Oborevwori and he is dealing with the issues of worry on the project.

“As we speak, Governor Oborevwori is committed to an Irrevocable Payment Order of N1billion monthly to the Contractor of the Ayakoromo bridge to fast-pace completion to open up more of the Ijaw area to development”, Chief Government, ex-governing chair of Institute of Continuing Education, ICE, said.

Continuing, he said; “There are several roads in the Ijaw area, including rehabilitation of the Bomadi/Ohorhor road, also captured in the 2025 budget. With projects for Ijaw area in a budget long signed to law, those who think Governor Oborevwori was reacting to some protests or ultimatum are wrong”.

Giving reasons for his call for collaboration of INC and other bodies, Chief Government, held out as development expert, said: “The constructive engagement by leaders of ethnic groups, like the Isoko Development Union, IDU, who always take their concerns to Osadebey House (Government House, Asaba) yielded many benefits in roads and tertiary institutions.

“By similar constructive engagements, the Bomadi Polytechnic already backed by law or the campus of an existing university, can be realised for the Ijaw nation. We can’t always wait for opportunities to slip by and then react with a confrontational approach”.